I have been searching through The Nottingham Guardian as available on the “Gale” site through Nottinghamshire Libraries. My specific search was for anything on a most interesting ancestor of mine, Levi Lee, and I came across a report of a meeting called to discuss a proposed fountain for Nottingham Market Place. This meeting turned out to be quite chaotic at times, and sometime hilarious. Though written in a typical “Victorian” style, it still showed a considerable sense of humour on the part of the writer, which really amused me. It is quite a long article, but I thought I would like to share it with others, and have split it into easy reading sections. I will post the remaining sections next week. As an adjunct, I have done additional research and presume that the Mr. Mahon who called the meeting was Jeremiah Mahon, a bookseller on Long Row. I make this presumption given the reference in this article to published works, and that Long Row is of course in The Market Place. My ancestor Levi Lee speaks later on in the meeting. The date of The Nottingham Guardian is 30th October 1851 and the article is reproduced below exactly as written. MEETING EXTRAORDINARY TO PROMOTE THE FOUNTAIN Last night (Wednesday) a meeting convened by placards was held at the Corn Exchange, Thurland Street, Nottingham, its object being to consider the present state of affairs in reference to this much vexed question, which has given rise to many storms in our local tea-cup, and to decide upon the best steps to be pursued for the purpose of realising the dreams of those who are anxious that a fountain should be erected in our spacious Market Place. What those “best steps” are will be ascertained by a perusal of the following report; we may, however, observe par parenthesis, that the chief argument used by the supporters of the project, when any person dared to lift up his voice on the opposition side of the question, consisted of vigorous exclamations, embodying the gentle injunction to “turn him out”. The assemblage was one of a heterogenous description, consisting principally of that class of men who in the palmy days of O’Connor’s mob popularity were prepared to do his bidding, whether it were in tearing their throats by cheering vociferously for “the national land company”, or in tearing the coats from the backs of the loyal lieges who had the audacity to give expression to sentiments advocating obedience to legal rule. But, like Othello, “their occupation would have gone” had not the meeting of this night afforded them some employment. By the request of Mr Mahon, and at his expense, four policemen were in attendance to preserve the peace, Verily, knowing the disposition of his new found friends, he must have been fearful that, without such a salutary check upon their actions, they would have gone to extremes which even he was afraid to contemplate. Proceedings were announced to commence at 8 o’clock, but it was nearer half-past when Mr Mahon ascended the platform. After looking round the room several times Mr. Mahon proposed that Mr. Eyre should be called upon to preside. Mr. Eyre was as still as a tit-mouse, whereupon Mr. Mahon proposed that Mr. Lakin should take the chair. Mr. Lakin dodged behind the broad shoulders of a spectator, evidently with a wish not to accept that honour. Mr. Mahon acting on the principle taught at school, that “If at first you fail, why then, try, and try, and try again, proposed that Mr. Henson should be the president of the important conclave. Mr. Henson remained quiescent, while lengthened grins on many faces gave evidence that the fun was appreciated. But Mr. Mahon was determined to have a chairman, and as a last resource he nominated a Mr. Holbrook, who immediately mounted the rostrum, and opened the business of the night by calling upon Mr. Mahon, who, after stating that the waterworks company wanted what he termed the most exhorbitant sum of £570 a year for a supply of water for the fountain, said that Messrs. Hollins, Parliament Street, were willing to supply water for the fountain, if its promoters fulfilled their proposition to pay all the expense of putting up a tank and pump in order to carry the water to a sufficient high elevation to furnish a proper supply to the fountain, the cost of doing which would not amount to more than £10 to £15 a year. If those persons therefore who had impeded the project, for the sake of mischief would do all they could to enable them to carry it to a completion, their object would soon be attained. The expense of erecting a tank would not be more than £200, which added to the £300 for the purchase and erection of the fountain, would only make a sum of £500, which would be all that would be required to carry out the object. (Hear, hear). Had the fountain been proposed by the persons who were capable of carrying everything before them the opposition would never had been raised, or if it had been, it would have been stepped over, whether it came from high or low. (Cheers and hisses). And then, continued Mr. Mahon, as far as lamps round the fountain go, it is quite necessary that lamps be placed in the centre of the Market Place, for they would prevent many diabolical transactions that are done there. I was nearly killed the other night, and I am sure if lamps were in the Market Place nothing could be attempted to the extent it was. (Hear, hear, hisses, and cries of “shame.”) Yes, I was passing over the Market Place on Thursday evening with three letters in my hand. It was extremely dark, but I saw three men running after me. Of course I ran home. If lamps had been there I should not have been attempted to be seized by what I understand were hired men. I consider myself extremely fortunate in standing here alive before you. (Laughter and sensation.) If the persons who took a prominent part in that little drama had had their way I would be dead at this moment – for the assassin struck me with a great thick stick on my head when I had a shutter in my hands, in a most cowardly manner. (A voice: “Down came the rolling pin!” Laughter, and cries of “Turn him out”.) I repeat that I was shutting up my shop at nearly 11 o’clock on Thursday night, a gentleman who shall be nameless, came from a dark place with a great thick stick and hit me as hard as he could; and the blow was repeated several times. (“Order,” “shame”, and laughter.) If I had not exercised activity, and under a good Providence, I should certainly have been killed. (A voice; “Good job,” – and interruption which lasted several minutes.) Having stated that the verses, and other matter he had published were issued with a “corrective” and not with a “corruptive” intention, and that they ought to be looked upon as wholesome lessons, Mr Mahon moved “That this meeting presents a vote of thanks to Messrs Hollins and Co for the kind and liberal manner in which they have consented to give to the inhabitants of Nottingham the use of the water now running to waste in their works in Parliament Street, and fro granting permission to erect tanks a t a sufficiently high elevation to make the water serviceable to supply the same fountain.”. _____ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1410 / Virus Database: 1520/3899 - Release Date: 09/15/11