Between 1821 and 1831 the population increased largely, but during the next decade the increase of the borough population was proportionately much less. During that time Hastings laboured under a commercial depression, with many houses unlet, and partly in the absence of railway communication in comparison with some other places. From 1841 to 1851 the population (as shewn by the numbers in the census returns) was greatly augmented. The preponderance of females is a remarkable feature. In 1841 the borough contained 1417 more females than males; and in 1851 the disparity was still greater, the excess of females being 1717.
The births and deaths for the quarter which ended on the 30th of September, as given in Mr. Harvey’s returns for the parishes of All Saints, St. Clement’s and St. Mary’s, were 147 of the former and 94 of the latter, thus showing the births to be 53 in excess of the deaths.
Items for the Curious
A Temperance Inebriate. — On the 31st of July, a drunkard named Norbury, with a Hastings Temperance pledge-card in his pocket, hanged himself in the Folkestone police-station, while in custody for drunkenness.
Going the whole Hog. A member of the porcine family, 10 weeks old, cured into bacon, and looking as though it had been roasted, was exhibited at pork-butcher Sinden’s shop, in Castle street.
The Crystal Palace, being 1448 feet in length, would have reached from the bottom of High street to above Lady Waldegrave’s mansion at the top of the town, or from the east end of the Marine parade to the centre of York Buildings.
Guy Fawkes. This year’s celebration of Gunpowder plot was of an improved character. The morning opened with several salvos from a park of lilliputian artillery on the West hill, and the evening carnival included not only an effigy of “Poor Old Guy”, but also one of King James, the latter seated in a canopied car.
Rock Fair — at one time a great annual event, like the Races, before the Railways usurped the sites of both — was this year, held in Mr. Brisco’s Field on the White-rock hill, and in a manner that did not redown to its credit. The said fair was usually noted for its devices in gilt ginger-bread, but -
