Gin at 4d per gallon. In the month of February, a cask of gin (106 gallons) was washed ashore at St. Leonards. From the brands and the low proof strength of the spirit, it was supposed to have been washed ashore from a vessel. It was afterwards offered for sale by auction at the Rye Custom House. No offer could be obtained for it for home consumption, and after a languid bidding it was knocked down to Mr. R. Kent at 4d per gallon for exportation. Similar casks had been washed ashore at Rottingdean and Rye.
The “Victoria and Albert” (royal steam yacht) passed St. Leonards and Hastings on the 31st of May, at a short distance off and remained in sight a considerable time, while conveying Princess Frederick William back to Prussia.
“Old Mike” (or Michael Hamilton) the well-known half-crazy, half-witty match-vendor and excruciating fifeist, died in the Hastings Union at the age of 58, but having more the appearance of a man of 78. The present writer knew the “Old Mike” when he itinerated from town to town with his mother, making the horrible screeching noise on an old fiddle as he afterwards did on a fife. Many curious anecdotes could be told of this begging but not dishonest wanderer.
Petitions: A petition from these towns against the Government Reform Bill was presented to the House of Commons by Mr. North on March 21st. A week later, both the Liberal and Conservative members (North and Robertson) presented petitions from the St. Leonards parochial school, the Hastings Mechanics’ Institution and the Croft-Chapel school against the Local Assessment Abolition Bill. On the 1st of April Mr. Robertson presented a petition from St. Leonards against the Bill for the Better Regulation of Endowed Schools. Also from Bodiam for the repeal of the Hop Duty.
A Reminder and Suggestion. A visitor reminded the public that the 14th of October would be the anniversary of the battle of Hastings, and suggested a meeting at Battle on that day to commemorate the birthday of King Harold.
Gunpowder Plot. On the 5th of November the usual torch-light procession in Hastings had its lights repeatedly blown out by the wind, but the St. Leonards was wisely postponed until Monday the 7th, when favoured with better weather the procession turned out in gorgeous array under the title of “Bonfire Boys”, with a band of music and a huge effigy of Commissioner Yeh.
Collections On Sept. 11th, at St. Leonards Church £30 was collected for the Sunday’s third service. On the 18th of November, the Bishop of Brisbane lectured in the St. Leonards Assembly Room, and obtained in collections and donations for the -
