Maritime Casualty. On the night of the 11th of June, the "Three Brothers" brigantine, laden with coal for Tynemouth, got on some rocks at Bexhill, and as the tide receded, she lurched over on her beam ends. The crew were taken off by a Hastings fishing boat.
Cricket. On the 6th of August, two elevens of the St. Leonards Club competed on the St. Leonards Green, when Cheale's eleven were the victors, Cheale himself getting more runs than all the others put together.
More Soldiers from the Crimea. The 41st and 44th Highlanders arrived from Portsmouth on Saturday, Aug 16th. and on Sunday evening took train for Dover.
The Horticultural Society held their autumn show in the St Leonards Gardens. It was favoured with splendid weather, attended by a brilliant company and enlivened by the excellent local Brass Band. Lord Palmerston was at the same time staying at the Victoria Hotel.
A Gold Ring was put into the plate at a meeting of the Bible Society on the 25th of September, the collection of money at the time being £14 odd.
An Immense Gurnet was caught with hook and bait by a gentleman on the 7th of August, the length of the fish being two feet, and its weight nine pounds.
A Stormy Petrel - a rare bird in these parts - was shot at a short distance from shore, in November.
A Gigantic Skate, weighing 140lbs., was trawled up on the 29th of the same month by one of the Hastings fishing boats.
The First Monumental Stone in the new cemetery was erected to the memory of Major-General Cox, who died at St. Leonards. The sculptor was Mr. Henry Vennell, who put up the marble chimney-piece within 3 feet of where I am writing.
The Registrar-General's Returns for the last quarter of 1856, showed that the pressure and temperature of the air was very variable. October was warm, November was cold, and December was warm. The rainfall at Greenwich, 3.9, was less than the average by 3.7. The average price of wheat was 63/4 per quarter, whilst that in the preceding year was 79/4. The average rate of mortality was 20 per thousand, or 24 in large towns and 17 in small towns and country parishes.
St. Leonards-on-sea. This was the title of a poem by Margaret Whiteman, published in the Hastings News, of July 4th 1856Proud is thy seat by ocean wave,
A prouder scarce might be;
Fair as a bride, like Venice, old,
Thou sittest by the sea.
List'ning the chant of breeze and surge,
Sound ceaseless, night and day;
Now sad, now solemn as a dirge,
Now glad as childhood's lay.
And weary hearts by grief and pain,
Harrowed and fettled long,
Forget their wild wor, list'ning
To that triumphal song,
Telling of pains and partings past -
Of tears and trials o'er;
Of love that shall eternal last,
And peace for evermore
