living, who has lately added to his
literary fame by a biographical work of high repute (I scarcely need add
that I allude to Mr. W. Taylor) would sometimes instruct us by his
various and profound knowledge, or amuse us with his ingenious
paradoxes.' When we recollect how at this time the poetical puerilities
of Bath Easton flourished in the West, we may claim that Norwich and
Yarmouth, if not as favoured by fashion, had at any rate a claim to
intellectual reputation at least quite equal to that city of the _ton_.
Dr. Sayers, whose biography William Taylor had written, and whose
'Dramatic Sketches of Northern Mythology' had created a great sensation
at the time, was of Yarmouth extraction.

The Rev. Mr. Compton writes: 'In Yarmouth, where I lived at this time,
and where Lord Chedworth was accustomed to pay an annual visit, there was
then a society of gentlemen who met once a fortnight for the purpose of
amicable discussion. Our members--alas! how few remain--were of all
parties and persuasions, and some of them of very distinguished
attainments. A society thus constituted was in those days as pleasant as
it was instructive. The most eager disputation was never found to
endanger the most perfect goodwill, nor did any bitter feuds arise from
this entire freedom of opinion till the prolific period of the French
Revolution. On this subject our controversies became very impassioned.
The present Sir Astley Cooper, then a very young man, was accustomed to
pass his vacations with his most excellent father, Dr. Cooper, a name
ever to be by me beloved and revered. It was the amusement of our young
friend to say things of the most irritating nature, I believe--like Lady
Florence Pemberton in the novel--merely to see who would make the ugliest
face. Thus circumstanced, it was not in my philosophy to be the coolest
of the party.' We can well imagine the consequences. There was a row,
and the literary society came to grief. As time went on matters became
worse instead of better, and the town was split up into parties--Liberal
or the reverse, Church or Dissent, but all of one mind as regards their
views being correct; and as to the weakness or wickedness of persons who
thought otherwise. The evil of this spirit knew no bounds, and the
demoralizing effect it produced was especially apparent at election
times. When Oldfield wrote his 'Origin of Parliaments,' the town, he
tells us, was under the influence of the Earl of Leice