sort with which she was not acquainted; and I, as a musician, had been several times asked by the old lady to play one of those obsolete dances or to be her partner in the event of her not getting one who understood the figures - say of "Monty Musk," "Red House", "Hunt the Squirrel," &c. Her death occurred eleven years after her coronation - namely in May, 1849, in the 82nd year of her age. From before the burlesque entertainment and until her death, "Nanny" Page lived in an apartment at Mr. Balding's - a picturesque old house, of which a descendant (Mr. W. F. Balding, of Silverhill), has a valuable oil painting, the site of which said house is now 134 All Saints Street. Of some other picturesque houses in the same neighbourhood, drawings are possessed by Mr. Heathfield, of the Stag inn.
The Harbour Project - County Gaol Question
The harbour scheme received a momentary impetus by an intimation to a member of the committee that the Admiralty would not withhold its consent to the harbour project. The intimation of Government sanction thus conveyed in a letter induced one of the promoters to go into a calculation of the benefits that would be likely to accrue to the town in its acquisition of a harbour. The property at that time, in houses, lands and shipping, was estimated at a value of £1,500,000; and it was argued that if a harbour increased the value by only 5 per cent., the existing property would have an additional worth of £75,000; and that if it were increased by 20 per cent. - a not improbable occurrence - the addition would amount to £300,000. The said promoter expressed it as his decided opinion that the scheme, if carried out, would accomplish the latter value between the east of Hastings and the west of St. Leonards, and that the increase of trade - a circumstance of even greater moment - might be fairly estimated at 30 per cent. Thus viewed, the scene was one of roseate hues, and the prospect was undoubtedly charming; but there were people of a different type, whose pessimistic idiosyncrasies led them to see the view darkened on the one hand by a host of "fashionables" taking flight on the approach of certain associations which harbours of refuge were known to attract, and on the other hand by a crowd of incursionists to compete for any additional trade which might accrue to the town in consequence of new inducements. A sort of apathy was then engendered; and as in addition to the Infirmary question and the formation of new roads, there were other public matters to occupy attention, the harbour project appeared to be sinking into oblivion during the first seven or eight months of 1838; but on the 16th of August a preliminary meeting was held by Mr. Troup and others, with Dr. Mac Cabe[a] in the chair, at which it was resolved to request the Mayor to convene a public meeting for the purpose of ascertaining how far successful the committee had been in the prosecution of the scheme. Such meeting was called, but after certain formalities, informalities, and opposing tactics, the meeting was adjourned until the first of October, when the matter was again discussed by the Rt. Hon. J. Planta M.P., R. Hollond, M.P., Col. Williams, Mr. Troup, and others. Resolutions were passed that a harbour would be preferable to either piers or wharfs, if not exceeding £60,000; and that the best site would be between the Battery and Rock-a-Nore. Col. Williams exhibited a plan of break-water of a circular form, with an estimated cost of £57,000. He also stated his reasons for preferring the eastern site. Another meeting was held on the 26th of December, when Mr. Ginner stated that with a good deal of difficulty he had collected £40. to be added to previous subscriptions. Mr. Clement said he would willingly give £5, but he was satisfied that three-fourths of the large property owners were against them. Mr. Ross, Sen., regretted the spirit thus shown. He remembered that some years back (1825), when he was appointed one of a committee to collect subscriptions for improving the parade as much as £200 was given at the first meeting. After that Mr. Milward subscribed £50, and other people gave lesser sums, until the whole of the twelve hundred pounds was raised; but now they were troubled to get so much as a thousand pounds to pay the preliminary expenses of a harbour. - A second adjournment then took place, and on the latter occasion a long report from the Town Council was read, followed by a warm discussion on Col. Williams versus James Troup, in which the latter gentleman was characterised as always speaking and writing falsely. He had published an apology and had afterwards withdrawn it. This gave rise to an indiscribable (sic) scene of recrimination; yet, as touching the harbour question, every one appeared to be his own harbour master. It was difficult to proceed with the business, and an attempt was made to bring the weight of St. Leonards to bear on the subject. Mr. Briggs proposed that it should be undertaken by a joint-stock company, and Col. Williams proposed that the borough should be taxed at 1 1/2d. in the pound for the expense of carrying a Bill into Parliament and that the deficiency should be made up by a public subscription. It was this proposal which excited the susceptibilities of the St. Leonards Commissioners and induced them to give the before-mentioned instructions to their clerk.
The statement that "poverty and crime go always hand in hand" may, in exceptional circumstances be capable of disproof, but those exceptional conditions did not apply to 1838. The prevalent distress already alluded to continued throughout the spring and to a less extent throughout the year notwithstanding the elements of recovery afforded by the generosity of the wealthy and the means adopted to provide employment as far as the weather and other circumstances would permit. The commission of crime and misdemeanor were on the increase, and the prison was comparatively as full of offenders as the Union-house was of paupers. It was becoming more and more evident that gaol accommodation was inadequate to the requirements; and hence, on the 30th of January a private meeting of magistrates and members of the Town Council, together with the Earl of Chichester was held at Mr. North's residence to consider the question of a county gaol. It is probable that they also discussed the propriety of removing the magisterial sittings from Battle to Hastings in consequence of the difficulty of forming a Bench at the former place. At two preceding sessions Mr. North was the only magistrate present at Battle, and he thus found it necessary on his own responsibility to adjourn the court to Hastings fixing Saturday for such adjournment. As regards the gaol, the question was kept in abeyance until the latter part of August, when the County Magistrates approved of a new one being built, but the approval was in a manner revoked by the Town Council passing Mr. North's proposition "to memoralize (sic) the Secretary of State for the erection of a model prison in London, before going to the expense of building a new gaol in Hastings, in conjunction with the county." It was privately whispered that in Mr. North's opinion, a county gaol and a harbour were alike calculated to bring more notoriety than benefit to a borough that was rapidly rising into importance as a place of fashionable resort. If this was really Mr. North's idea, there are probably but few persons who would not now readily endorse the views of that long-tried representative.
To give even a resume of the trials at the petty sessions, quarter sessions or assizes of the year under notice might be as impolitic on the part of the writer as it would be tedious to the reader, even though it were intended to show the absolute necessity of greater prison accommodation; yet there are a few special cases of crime with sufficient interest by themselves to justify a passing allusion. On the 31st of January a diabolical attempt was made to shoot the Rev. Mr. Richards at Icklesham. That gentleman had invited his neighbours' children to an evening's enjoyment; and as they were taking leave at the door some miscreant from behind a hedge fired a gun among the group. Some of the -
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