no fewer than 6,160 persons who were regarded as fit recipients of this boon, pourtrays, but a sorry picture of their condition. It seems, indeed, to have corresponded rather closely with the widespread distress in the, northern districts at that time.
Archery Meetings - New Venture in Journalism - Sale of Martello Towers
On the 11th of January was first established an institution which was destined to experience many vicissitudes, namely the Hastings and St. Leonards Horticultural Society. It started well, with every prospect of a long and healthy existence, but ere it reached what might be considered the prime of life it had to contend with many infirmities, eventually to die and to be again resuscitated. It was proposed to hold three exhibitions each year, the same to take place alternately in each town. The several shows during the earlier years were in the Swan Assembly-room, the Pelham Arcade and the St. Leonards Assembly-rooms; and at later periods in Wellington-square Gardens, the Castle Gardens, the St. Leonards Subscription Gardens, the Archery Grounds, the Warrior-square Gardens, and the Pier.
The original. committee consisted of thirteen gentlemen, of whom at the time of writing, not one living, They were Lieut. Col. Elliott, a retired officer; Rev. C. W Leslie, incumbent of St. Leonards; W. Scrivens, Esq., banker ; A, Burton, Esq., of St. Leonards; Mr. F. Ticehurst, surgeon; Rev. C. V. Summer, secretary, pro tem; and Messrs. T. Brown, wine-merchant ; W. Chamberlin, hotel-keeper; J. Brown, plumber; G. Voysey, architect; J. Buchanan, nurseryman; and W. Wood, gardener. The first show was a very successful one; it was held in the Pelham Arcade, and was visited by about 400 persons, among whom, as taking a prominent interest, were Lady Ashburnham, Mrs. Milward and Mrs. Shadwell. The second show, also very successful, was held on the 7th of September in the St. Leonards Assembly Rooms, there being among the exhibits some novel designs and models.
From the Horticultural Society, established in 1842, I turn almost instinctively to the Archery Society, then in its ninth year of existence. It commenced its season's prize-competitions as usual on the 24th of May in honour of her Majesty’s birth-day, and continued them until September 6th. I think I have before stated that in addition to the Queen’s early patronage of the Society, her royal consort, Prince Albert, placed his name on the roll of patrons in 1840. In 1842 a silver cup, valued at ten guineas was provided as a prize to be competed for by the gentlemen members at the Grand Annual Meetings on the 17th of August, and on the first occasion, its possession was secured by the Rev. E. Meyrick, who was followed by the Rev. J. R Roper as the second prize winner. At the sixth meeting for that year, held on the 6th of September, Miss Mackey and the Rey. J. R. Roper carried off the Society’s prizes, whilst the latter also won the circassian dagger presented by the president, the Hon, Joseph Planta. With the donor’s consent, Mr. Roper gave the said prize to the Society, to be exhibited, among other trophies, on the walls of the Archery Lodge. As usual, the Annual Grand Meeting was supplemented by a dinner and a ball at the Assembly-rooms.
The same rooms were also the scene of much gaiety on the occasion of a ball on the 20th of September, when among the company were the Borough Members and their wives - Mr. and Mrs. Planta and Mr. and Mrs. Hollond. Mr. Hart provided an excellent band on that occasion, and the playing of Mr. Laurent on the cornopean[a] - then but a recently invented instrument - was greatly admired. The comparatively thin attendance at this ball was, however, spoken of with a feeling of disappointment, the complaint being that after the liberal attendance of the St. Leonards people at the Hastings Race-ball on the previous Friday, the cordial friendliness then shown had not been reciprocated. This was no uncommon occurrence, and the "situation" has remained with but slight modifications for fifty years. The people who are connected with the St. Leonards Assembly-rooms and the newer Concert Hall - two of the handsomest rooms in the borough - can attest the fact that whilst the inhabitants of the West largely support the amusements and public ventures of the East, the people of the East do not in an equal degree support similar institutions and efforts of the West.
A new venture in journalism appeared this year by the publication of the Illustrated News. The present writer was at that time a bookseller in Norman road, and amongst several customers whom he obtained for the new paper was the late architect, Mr. Walter Inskipp who expressed great pleasure on receipt of the first copy, but was of opinion that it could not be carried on for any great length of time, in consequence of the immense outlay that would be required in the production of the engravings. Mr. Inskipp's brother James was an artist in water-colours, and could, no doubt, fairly estimate the probable expenditure in the getting-up of such a paper. It is needless to say that the opinion as to failure was falsified and that even with its many competitors at the present time and the wonderful improvements since 1842 that have been made, the Illustrated News, if not the very best, is certainly one of the best of its class.
Among the minor events of the year, was the despatch of the first coaches to meet the railway at Tunbridge Wells, thus neutralising or diverting to a large extent the anticipated traffic on the new road to Staplehurst, via Sedlecomb, Hawkhurst and Cranbrook. These coaches commenced running on the 23rd of May.
Another event was the bankruptcy of Mr. Edlin of the St. Leonards (now the Victoria) Hotel, who underwent a long examination at Brighton on the 23rd of May, such examination not being sufficiently satisfactory for him to get his discharge.
On the 30th of July, Mr. Hollond, the Liberal Member of Parliament was seriously ill, in consequence of which he paired with a Conservative for the remainder of the Session. He arrived however, at his St. Leonards residence with restored health, on the 24th of September, when Mrs. Hollond issued invitations to a ball. Mr. Hollond was a rich man, as was Mr. (now Lord) Brassey, of later years; and although both were Liberal in word and deed, they were not of that extreme type of Radicalism, which some of their supporters desired. It was this, probably, that at the time of the former's representation of the borough induced a correspondent of the Sussex Advertiser' to write thus:-"It was the fashion 12 years ago when the Reform question was agitated in the boro' for its friends to meet at stated periods to discuss the various claims by which it was conceived the cause might be most efficiently supported and exigencies more readily provided for. To this prudent but energetic cause may be fairly attributed the great advantage then achieved - a triumph as honourable to the Reformers of these towns as it was beneficial as a good example to other boroughs by displaying to them in deep and lasting colours what effect could be produced by men who had firmness and perseverance for their motive.
Justly proud may those Reformers be of their youthful triumphs in having influenced the patron of the boro' to return two members to Parliament who voted for the Reform Bill, and to make nearly 300 freemen, taken from all classes of the inhabitants, even before the Reform Bill was passed. Having -
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