NORFOLK ANNALS. VOLUME I. 1801–1850. (continued 13)

—The Countess of Leicester sustained a compound fracture of the leg by a fall from her horse whilst riding in Holkham Park.

16.—A brace of trout was taken in an eel net at the New Mills, Norwich. The female weighed 6 lbs. 8 oz., and was 23½ inches in length; the male was 4 lbs. 12 oz. in weight, and 23 inches in length.

NOVEMBER.

2.—On Mr. T. R. Buckworth’s estate at Cockley Cley, near Swaffham, “a party of several gentlemen killed the extraordinary number of 630 head of game, consisting of 331 pheasants, 15 partridges, 176 hares, and 108 rabbits.”

5.—Gaslight was used for the first time at Harleston; to celebrate the event a public dinner was held at the Magpie Inn.

6.—A public meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, presided over by Mr. John Joseph Gurney, at which an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society, for the purpose of abolishing slavery throughout the world, was formed. Mr. Henry B. Stanton, secretary of the New York Anti-Slavery Society, was the principal speaker.

9.—Mr. Edward Willett was elected Mayor, and Mr. Richard Coaks appointed Sheriff, of Norwich.

—Died at his residence, St. Margaret’s Place, Lynn, aged 63, Mr. John Prescott Blencowe, who had several times served the office of Mayor of that borough.

10.—The Norwich Polytechnic Exhibition was opened in the premises known as the Royal Bazaar, St. Andrew’s. The exhibition consisted of scientific objects, paintings, drawings, machinery, &c. Professor Partington delivered a course of lectures on arts and manufactures.

18.—A county meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, in furtherance of the movement for suppressing the slave trade in Africa. The High Sheriff (Mr. H. Villebois) presided. The Chartists attended in force, and “gave groans for the Whigs of Norwich, for Mr. J. J. Gurney, the Bishop of Norwich, and Sir T. Fowell Buxton.” The ringleader, Dover, moved a resolution affirming that the meeting “views with deep regret the many proofs of despotic slavery now increasing at home, and it therefore pledges itself to use all its exertions to put a final stop to slavery wherever it is found to exist.” This was negatived, amid great uproar, and the resolutions drafted by the promoters of the meeting adopted.

22.—Intelligence was received in Norwich of the birth of a Princess (Princess Royal). The bells of St. Peter Mancroft were rung, and next day (Monday) there were further demonstrations of joy. On December 2nd a special meeting of the Norwich Court of Guardians was held, “to drink the health of the Queen and the Princess Royal”; and on the same day the Bishop, in celebration of the birth, entertained the inmates of the Workhouse. The Town Council, on the 10th, adopted a loyal and dutiful address of congratulation.

22.—A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, and resulted in the loss of several lives. Ships were driven ashore at Cromer.

DECEMBER.

14.—A young man named William Bunting appeared before the Norwich magistrates, charged with using threatening language to Mr. R. N. Bacon, of the “Norwich Mercury.” The defendant, a groom in the service of Capt. Ives, rode a horse named Newman Nogs at Long Stratton steeplechases on December 9th. The animal was injured, and had to be destroyed. The complainant, in his report in the “Mercury,” insinuated that the rider “had too much nog in his head”; and Bunting, taking offence, called at the office, and threatened to horsewhip Mr. Bacon. It was alleged that, during the interview, Capt. Ives rode backwards and forwards in front of the office. Defendant was ordered to find sureties, and keep the peace.

26.—Navigation between Norwich and Yarmouth was obstructed by the frozen state of the river.

28.—A cricket match was played on the ice on Scoulton Mere, between two selected elevens from the parish of Hingham. “Mr. W. Waller’s side went in first, and after some fine play, and still finer falls, were out for 66 runs. Mr. W. Roberts’ side then took the bat, and scored 170 runs in the most slashing style, hitting the ball quite off the ice in all directions. Some of the players wore skaits, and others their stump shoes, &c., to prevent falling.”

30.—At a meeting held at the East India and Colonial Rooms, Pall Mall, under the presidency of Mr. W. L. W. Chute, M.P., the Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridge Railway Company was formed, for the purpose of constructing a line to proceed from Yarmouth to Bishop’s Stortford, by way of Norwich, Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford, Newmarket and Cambridge. The principal promoter was Mr. J. W. Rastrick, and the adoption of the scheme was agreed to on the motion of the Marquis of Douro, seconded by Mr. Samuel Bignold. The estimated cost of the line was two millions, and of locomotives and carriages, £200,000.

31.—The weather “was warmer and more brilliant than the last days of May are sometimes found to be.” In the previous week the thermometer stood at eleven degrees below freezing point.

1841.

JANUARY.

3.—A severe gale, with thunder, lightning, and hailstorms, occurred.

4.—A correspondent writing to the Norfolk Chronicle on this date announced the discovery, in the old Library Room at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, of an antique chest containing the remains of a valuable collection of Roman and English coins. John Kirkpatrick, in his will, dated July, 1727, made the following bequest: “I give to the Mayor, Sheriffs, citizens and commonalty of Norwich all my ancient MSS. and all my medals and antient coins of silver and brass, to be deposited in the library of the new Hall” (the Guildhall). The coins found at St. Andrew’s Hall formed the remnant of that collection.

7.—The thermometer fell to zero at Norwich. The cold was so intense that fowls under cover were frozen to death. Great distress prevailed, and meetings were held at Norwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn, to adopt measures for the relief of the poor.

9.—Died in the Cathedral Precincts, Norwich, in his 77th year, the Rev. Peter Hansell, one of the Minor Canons of the Cathedral, an office which he had held for upwards of fifty-four years. For more than half a century he was minister of St. John de Sepulchre. His remains were interred, on the 15th, in the south transept of the Cathedral.

—Died, aged 52, Samuel Thurston, for more than 30 years a ringer at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich. “As a practical ringer and theorist combined, the art has lost one of its brightest ornaments. The date tablets erected in different parishes throughout the city and county record his fame as a ringer.”

16.—All the marshes and low-lying lands in the vicinity of Norwich were flooded upon the breaking up of the frost. Owing to the heavy state of the roads, the mail and stage coaches were delayed several hours beyond their usual time. The weather was remarkably warm and brilliant in the last week of the month.

FEBRUARY.

3.—Wintry weather set in with increased severity, the rivers were icebound, and navigation was completely stopped at Lynn.

—The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Ed. Willett) entertained a large party at the Royal Hotel, in celebration of the christening of the Princess Royal. “Four swans formed a conspicuous figure in the second course, and the ancient and costly Corporation plate was brought into requisition on this occasion. Previous to the removal of the cloth the beautiful antique massive gilt dishes were passed round with rose water in them.” In the evening a ball was held at the Assembly Rooms.

8.—Miss Ellen Tree commenced a six nights’ engagement at Norwich Theatre. Her impersonations included Julia (“The Hunchback”), Letitia Hardy, Mrs. Haller, Constance (“The Love Chase”), Juliana (“The Honeymoon”), and Pauline.

12.—Died, at East Dereham, in her 101st year, Mrs. Carter, widow of the Rev. John Carter, formerly minister of the Independent chapel, Mattishall.

—Died, Sir Astley Paston Cooper, Bart., aged 78 years.

27.—Died at Scarning, aged 67, the Rev. L. Walton, perpetual curate of Wendling and Longham, and many years master of the Free Grammar School, Scarning.

MARCH.

5.—The Norwich Philharmonic Society, established on the dissolution of the Hall Concert, gave its first concert.

22.—The Mayor of Yarmouth (Mr. S. Palmer), “assisted by the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons,” laid the first stone of the Victoria Hotel at Yarmouth. “Corn, wine, and oil, emblems of plenty, were offered and poured upon the stone.” The hotel, and adjoining houses known as Kimberley Terrace, were erected by the Victoria Building Company, “for the reception of families of the highest distinction.”

APRIL.

5.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Bosanquet, Charlotte Yaxley, alias Middleton, aged 22, was indicted for the murder of Lavinia Kerrison, the thirteen months old illegitimate child of her husband, by drowning it in a duck-pond at Yarmouth, on March 23rd. She was found guilty, and sentenced to transportation for life.

10.—Intelligence was received at Norwich of the massacre, by Malay pirates, in the Straits of Timor, of the crew of the Pilot Southseaman in June, 1840. The captain, first officer (Mr. Gidney, brother of Mr. J. W. Gidney, of East Dereham), and twenty-five seamen fell victims whilst gallantly defending the ship.

13.—Died, aged 85, John Rayson, of Pulham. “For nearly half a century he had been deprived of the use of his legs, but this did not prevent his travelling daily between Pulham and Harleston as postman or letter carrier, for 47 years.”

17.—A new “local drama,” entitled, “Rose Maynard, the Factory Girl of Norwich,” was produced for the first time at Norwich Theatre. “The piece is of home manufacture, but we cannot compliment the weaver of this dramatic warp and woof of his judgment in laying such a fabric before an audience in Norwich.” The scenery, by Thorne, included views of St. Saviour’s church, the Palace Gate, St. Martin-at-Palace Plain, and Whitefriars’ Bridge.

27.—Died at South Walsham, aged 75, Mr. Henry Codling. “Unassisted by the aid of any tutor, he acquired no mean degree of mathematical knowledge. He understood the doctrine of fluxions, and delighted in his favourite author, Maclaurin. He was a constant annual correspondent with the ‘Ladies’ Diary,’ to within a few years of the close of his life, and received prizes for the solution of the most knotty questions contained therein.”

28.—The headquarters of the 8th Royal Irish Hussars marched from Norwich for Manchester, and on the same day two troops of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched in, under the command of Major Bolton.

—Died at Chigwell Row, Mr. Luke Greaves Hansard, aged 61. “He was printer to the House of Commons, and eldest son of Luke Hansard, a native of Norfolk.”

MAY.

5.—The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 500 persons at Diss. His lordship, in the course of this visitation, confirmed 10,464 young persons.

11.—Mr. Carter, “the celebrated African Lion King,” appeared at Norwich Theatre “with his troupe of acting animals, consisting of lions, tigers, leopards, and panthers, in a new drama, entitled, ‘The Lion of the Desert.’” Mr. Carter took the part of “Abdallah, a dumb Arab.” “It requires no little nerve on the part of the actors and actresses to play to such rough customers, and much credit is due to the members of the Norwich Company who took a share in the performance.”

17.—At Norwich, R. Coates, “the great London pedestrian,” walked 50 miles in twelve hours; on the 18th ran 50 miles, on the 19th ran 40 miles backwards, on the 20th ran a pair of wheels 22 miles, rowed a boat 10 miles, jumped 300 flights of hurdles placed ten yards apart, and threw 100 somersaults. “All these events on the several days were performed in the space of twelve hours.” At the Green Hill Gardens, Norwich, Coates undertook to walk, on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, fifty miles in twelve hours each day, “half backwards and half forwards, and accomplished this extraordinary feat the last day with ten minutes to spare.” At the same gardens, on June 30th, he commenced walking 1,000 half miles in 1,000 successive hours. “He has to walk a half mile every succeeding half hour day and night, but he has the privilege of walking two half miles together, the last and first part of the hour.” Coates was credited with the due accomplishment of the feat. On August 10th a man named Charles Thurlow began a walk of 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich, and completed what was said to have been a genuine performance on September 21st. Another pedestrian named Henry Raven, started to walk the same distance in the same time on the Lord Nelson ground, Lakenham, on September 29th, and completed his undertaking on November 10th.

—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, under the command of Major Loftus, marched into Norwich, headed by their brass band, and on the following day proceeded to Yarmouth for a week’s permanent duty.

18.—Sir Jacob Astley, of Melton Constable, Norfolk, and of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, took his seat in the House of Peers as Baron Hastings. The termination of the long-pending abeyance of the Barony of Hastings in favour of Sir Jacob was celebrated with great festivities at Foulsham and Holt. “According to the date of his barony, the 18th of Edward I., 1290, next below Lord de Roos, Baron Hastings is the most ancient baron of the United Kingdom.”

20.—Mr. G. V. Brooke commenced a six nights’ engagement at Norwich Theatre.

JUNE.

2.—At a meeting held at the Assembly Rooms, East Dereham, under the presidency of Lord Sondes, it was agreed “that in consequence of the unprincipled attacks made upon the owners and cultivators of the soil by the employment of hired agitators to inflame the minds of the lower orders of society against them, it is expedient that some steps be adopted for the protection and defence of those interests.” It was also decided to form an association which was known as the Central Norfolk Society for the Protection of Agriculture, and was affiliated to the British Agricultural Protection Association, an organization which worked in opposition to the Anti-Corn Law League.

2.—A meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, in pursuance of a requisition addressed to the Mayor, stating that “her Majesty’s Ministers had been guilty of an act of gross and wanton injustice and spoliation in depriving the freemen of this and other cities and boroughs of their vested municipal rights; that by their unremitting endeavours to uphold and perpetuate in all their unmitigated harshness and severity the heartless and oppressive provisions of the new Poor Law they had evinced an utter disregard to the wants, feelings, and rights of the poor, and that their recent attempts to deprive the colonial and agricultural interests of the empire of a just protection under the specious and delusive pretext of supplying a deficiency in the revenue which their own mismanagement had occasioned, had rendered them wholly unworthy of the confidence of the country.” Between two thousand and three thousand persons were present, and the greatest confusion prevailed, owing to the action of a large body of Chartists, led by the notorious John Dover. It was proposed that Col. Harvey should take the chair, but the Chartists elected one Matthew Smith, a working man. On the latter assuming the presidency of the meeting, Col. Harvey, Mr. Bignold, and other gentlemen left the hall. A number of resolutions of a revolutionary character were adopted, and Dover, at the conclusion of the meeting, congratulated his followers on the success of the gathering, remarking that “it had cost the Tories £20 for bills, and the Whigs £20 for bullies.” The proceedings, which were of a very orderly character, concluded with three cheers for Fergus O’Connor. Meanwhile the gentlemen who had convened the original meeting adjourned to the Norfolk Hotel, where they passed a series of resolutions emphasising the statements contained in the requisition. During the whole of the proceedings the hotel was besieged by a riotous mob, several serious assaults were committed, and on the 3rd some of the rioters were charged before the magistrates.

9.—Litcham Races took place on this date. Among the other local meetings was that at East Dereham, on June 23rd, where the commencement of the sport was announced by the ringing of the church bells, and the cup was won by Mr. Column’s c.g. Day Star. The trophy “weighed 41 oz., and contained by admeasurement eight pints of Howard’s sparkling champaign, which the fortunate winner twice filled, and the company partook of it with true English feeling.” The Yarmouth meeting took place on July 20th and 21st, the Norfolk and Norwich Races were held on Mousehold Heath, Norwich, on September 8th and 9th, and Swaffham Races on September 15th.

19.*—“For nearly the middle of June, so cold a season has never perhaps been experienced as during all last week. Fires and great coats were in general requisition, and coachmen and guards were to be seen muffled up as if we had been in the depth of winter.”

28.—The Marquis of Douro and Mr. Benjamin Smith, the retiring members, were nominated for the representation of Norwich in Parliament. Dover, the Chartist, nominated a third candidate, Mr. William Eagle, of Lakenheath, Suffolk. “Conservatives and Whigs, in the show of hands, voted against Eagle, and the Sheriff declared the Marquis of Douro and Mr. Smith duly elected.” Dover thereupon demanded a poll for Eagle, but was unable to deposit one-third of the expense (about £200). The proceedings were temporarily adjourned. “Dover then went out of the room, and, after the lapse of half an hour, something took place which our readers will guess by the result. When Dover came back there was no further demand for a poll—we believe Dover received £50 to withdraw the nomination.” The rumour quickly spread among the Chartists that Dover had “sold” them. The mob waylaid him in Dove Lane, and he retreated to the Guildhall for protection. The windows of the room in which he was supposed to have taken refuge were demolished by the stones thrown by the mob, and the police who went out to quell the disturbance were assailed by volleys of brickbats and other missiles. The 7th Dragoon Guards were called out, the Mayor read the Riot Act, and in the excitement and confusion Dover left the Guildhall unnoticed. On the 29th the Chartists assembled in force and went to the King’s Head, St. George’s Colegate, where Dover lived with a woman named Charlotte Humphrey. They burst into the house and found him armed with his Chartist weapons, which were wrested from him; he was knocked down, brutally belaboured, and hurried to the river, and would have been thrown from the bridge had it not been for the piteous intercession of one of his children. The mob were moving towards the Market Place with their prisoner when he was rescued by the police. At the same time a detachment of dragoons, commanded by Cornet Crofts, with the Mayor at their head, rode up, a coach was procured, and Dover, having been placed inside, was conveyed, under military escort, to the City Gaol, where his serious injuries were attended to by the surgeon of the prison. On the 30th several persons appeared before the magistrates and were punished for taking part in the disturbances. Public tranquillity was somewhat restored the same day by a procession in which “Philip Augustus, the musical pieman,” and “Jerry, the lucifer match seller, in a military costume, with an immense plume of feathers in his cap,” were “chaired.”

28.—Lord George Bentinck and Sir Stratford Canning were returned unopposed for the borough of King’s Lynn.

—Mr. W. Wilshere, Mr. C. E. Rumbold, Mr. Thomas Baring, and Mr. Joseph Soames were nominated candidates for the representation of Yarmouth. The proceedings were marked by great disorder. The polling, on the 29th, resulted as follows:—Wilshere, 945; Rumbold, 943; Baring, 501; Soames, 494. The two first named were declared elected.

30.—Thetford election took place. The Hon. W. Bingham Baring (Conservative), 86; Lord Euston (Whig), 71; Sir James Flower (Conservative), 71. Before a Committee of the House of Commons, on May 4th, 1842, a petition was presented on behalf of Sir James Flower, on the ground that several votes polled for Lord Euston were bad, as the voters had lost their qualifications. His lordship declined to take any part in these proceedings. The objection against one voter having been sustained, Sir James Flower was placed in a majority, and the Committee then passed the following resolution:—“That the Right Hen. Henry FitzRoy, commonly called the Earl of Euston, was not duly elected member for the borough of Thetford; that Sir James Flower, Bart., was duly elected, and ought to have been returned; and that the Committee have altered the poll by striking off the vote of William Burlingham from the poll of the Earl of Euston.”

JULY.

5.—Mr. William Bagge and Mr. W. Lyde Wiggett Chute, the former members, were nominated and returned unopposed as members for West Norfolk. “The town of Swaffham was one blaze of pink and purple.” The candidates were escorted to the Shirehall by an imposing procession, and after the nomination the election dinner was held at the Assembly Rooms, under the presidency of the Hon. Francis Baring.

10.—Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. Henry Negus Burroughes, the former Conservative members for East Norfolk, entered Norwich at the head of a great cavalcade of freeholders, and were nominated at the Shirehall. Mr. Palmer, Recorder of Yarmouth, and Mr. William Wilde, Coroner for Norwich, nominated and seconded Sir William J. H. B. ffolkes as the Whig candidate. The polling, on the 13th, was declared as follows:—Wodehouse, 3,498; Burroughes, 3,437; ffolkes, 1,379.

12.—Died at Denton, near Harleston, Sarah Witton, aged 100 years, “leaving twenty-nine great-grandchildren still living, they being the origin of one daughter.” The deceased was “the daughter of John and Eleanor Middleton, who lived to attain to the great age of 105 years.”

15.—Died in the Chantry, Norwich, Monsieur De Rouillon, “an eminent professor and teacher of French, and extensively known as the author of several grammatical and other useful literary works.”

26.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, a special jury tried the important action, Palmer and another v. Irving, chairman of the Alliance Insurance Company. The action was brought by the executors of a person of the name of Howes to recover from the company the sum of £1,503, the amount of a policy on the life of Howes. The defendant disputed the liability to pay, on the ground that Howes had suffered from consumption, was addicted to habits prejudicial to life, and that the policy had been obtained by fraud. After a long trial, an arrangement was arrived at, and a verdict given for the defendant, both sides to pay their own costs, and the policy to become void. Policies with other offices were similarly affected by the result of the trial.

28.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, John Self, aged 20, was charged with the murder of Jemima Stimpson, aged 15, at Wymondham, on July 17th. The prisoner killed the girl by striking her on the head with a spade, and afterwards threw the body into a pond. He was found guilty, sentenced to death, and on August 14th executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich.

AUGUST.

16.—The two troops of the 7th Dragoon Guards marched from the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, en route for Ireland. On the 25th a portion of the 13th Light Dragoons, recently returned from active service in India, marched in. The headquarters of the regiment were stationed at Ipswich. The commanding officer was Lieut.-Col. Richard Brunton, youngest son of Mr. John Brunton, formerly manager of Norwich Theatre, and brother of the Dowager Countess Craven.

17.—Experiments were made on Yarmouth beach, in the presence of coastguard officers, with the view of testing the capabilities of Manby’s mortar and Dennett’s rocket in carrying out a line for effecting communication with stranded vessels. “The result of the experiments appears to be that each apparatus is possessed of qualities peculiar to itself. The rocket unquestionably carries the furthest, and flies with great precision. It is also more portable, but the unanimous opinion was that the rocket and mortar should go together, and so far from being considered rivals, they should be regarded as coadjutors in promoting the beneficent object which each must have in view.”

26.—A four-oared match between London and Norwich crews, for £50 a side, took place from Coldham Hall to Thorpe Gardens, distance seven miles. The crews were composed as follow: London—Lett (stroke), Moulton, Maynard, Perry, G. Maynard (cox.). Norwich—William Gurling (stroke), Henry Gurling, Clarke, Tom Lefevre, W. Buttle (cox.). The boats started at 4.30 p.m.; the Londoners rowed the distance in 53 minutes, and the Norwich men in 56 minutes. The London boat, the most perfect specimen of a four-oar ever seen in Norwich, weighed 124 lbs. In a second match, on August 28th, in Norwich-built boats, from Bramerton to Thorpe, the London crew won by 25 seconds. On the same day a match between London and Norwich amateurs (London: Messrs. Chinery and Thompson; Norwich: Messrs. Clabburn and Russell), was rowed from Postwick to Thorpe (two miles), stakes £10. “The striking of the flags was nearly simultaneous, but the Londoners were declared the winners.”

—A balloon ascent was made from Lynn Gasworks by Mr. Gypson, accompanied by Mr. Thomas Oxley and Mr. D. Nelson. A second ascent took place on September 9th. On September 18th Mr. Gypson ascended from Swaffham Gasworks.

SEPTEMBER.

6.—Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced an operatic engagement at Norwich Theatre. The productions included “La Somnambula,” “Fra Diavolo,” “Love in a Village,” and “The Waterman.”

14.—The Coltishall Brewery estate, consisting of a residence and cottages, 53 inns and public-houses, and about 260 acres of land, formerly the property of Mr. Robert Howes, deceased, was offered for sale by auction, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, by Mr. W. W. Simpson, of London, and realised about £50,000.

OCTOBER.

13.—Van Amburgh, with his collection of trained animals, performed at Lynn. “The elephant arrived covered with a sort of coat à la Mackintosh, and, to prevent injury to his feet, he had something on in the shape of boots.” The show also visited Norwich, and was located in the Ranelagh Gardens. “As a menagerie it is inferior to Wombwell’s; as a spectacle it is scarcely to be compared with Carter’s.”

19.—At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, before Mr. Isaac Jermy, Recorder, Jacob Macro, woollen draper, refused to take the oath as a member of the grand jury, “because Scripture said ‘Swear not at all.’ The Recorder: Then, sir, I think it right to fine you the sum of £50, to be paid to the use of her Majesty.” The fine was subsequently reduced to £20.

NOVEMBER.

8.—An exceedingly rare fish, the maigre (sciæna aquila), was captured off Sheringham. It measured 5 ft. 2 in. in length, weighed 68½ lbs., and was preserved by Mr. George Johnson, chemist, of Norwich.

9.—At a meeting of the Norwich Paving Commissioners, it was decided to try the experiment of paving Briggs’ Street with wood. It was suggested that “pieces of fir 14 in. or 15 in. long, having been peeled, be put down as they grow, with gravel between each.”

—Mr. John Marshall was elected Mayor of Norwich, and Mr. William Storey appointed Sheriff.

10.—On the arrival at Norwich of the intelligence of the birth of the Prince of Wales, the Union flag was hoisted on the towers of St. Peter Mancroft, St. Stephen, St. Giles, and of other parish churches, and the bells of St. Peter rang rejoicing peals. On Sunday, the 14th, a special form of thanksgiving was used at the church services; on November 16th and December 4th the Norwich Town Council and the county magistrates voted addresses of congratulation to the Queen and Prince Albert; and on December 7th the Bishop of Norwich gave a dinner to the inmates of the Workhouse. “The Queen graciously received the congratulations of the boys of Paston Grammar School, North Walsham, and requested that an additional week of holidays be granted to them at the ensuing Christmas vacation, in commemoration of the happy event.”

13.—On this date was published the judgment given in the Consistory Court of Norwich, by Mr. Evans, in the suit, Loftus husband v. Loftus wife. The suit was brought by the Rev. Arthur Loftus, of Fincham, against Mary Anna Ray Loftus, for restitution of the conjugal rights of marriage. The Court ruled that Mr. Loftus was fully entitled to judgment, and admonished Mrs. Loftus to return to her husband.

14.—Died at Blickling Hall, the seat of the Dowager Lady Suffield, John William Robert Kerr, Marquis and Earl of Lothian, aged 48. The funeral of the deceased nobleman took place at Blickling church, on November 24th.

16.—Christ church, New Catton, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich, and the sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, rector of Berghapton. “The Chartists marched in procession to the church and were refused admission, and then commenced every possible description of insult and injury. The Bishop and other gentlemen, on leaving the church, were scandalously assailed by the mob; near St. Clement’s church some stones were thrown, and it was with difficulty that the crowd was kept off. The Right Rev. prelate was escorted to the Palace, and at the gate three cheers were given for his lordship.” Eleven arrests were made, and several convictions were recorded during the two days’ hearing at the Police Court. The ringleader, a man named Hewett, was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions, and on January 4th, 1842, the Recorder (Mr. Isaac Jermy) sentenced him to two calendar months’ imprisonment, ordered him to find two sureties and keep the peace for twelve months, and to remain in custody until such sureties were forthcoming.

17.—At the dinner of the Marham Hunt, held at the Crown Inn, Swaffham, Mr. Henry Villebois was presented with a silver candelabrum, weighing 200 oz., in recognition of “the liberal and sporting manner in which he had contributed to the general amusement” of the members of the Hunt.

19.—A meeting of landowners and others was held at Yarmouth, for the purpose of considering a scheme proposed by Mr. Robert Stephenson, for constructing a railway from Yarmouth to Norwich. Two other proposed railways were before the public, and in both cases it was proposed to construct bridges over the river. Mr. Stephenson’s railway, first known as the Valley Line, pursued a route which obviated the necessity of crossing the river, but the scheme included a plan for diverting the course of the stream at Thorpe for a distance of about 50 chains. The scheme, which was estimated to cost £150,000, was adopted, and the line, the first to be opened in Norfolk, was called afterwards the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway.

24.—The celebrated Distin family gave the first of three concerts at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

27.*—“The memorial statue of the late venerable Bishop Bathurst, by the far-famed hand of Chantrey, has been erected this week in Norwich Cathedral.” This was the last work of Chantrey, who died in London shortly after his departure from Norwich. “The estimate for the monument of Bishop Bathurst was £2,500; Chantrey took it for £1,500; the block of Carrara marble alone must have cost him nearly £1,000.”

—The Census returns were published on this date. The statistics affecting Norwich were as follow:—Houses, inhabited, 13,889; uninhabited, 805; building, 53; persons—males, 28,014; females, 33,832; total, 61,846. The population of Norfolk, exclusive of Norwich, was 350,775.

DECEMBER.

7.—A flood occurred at Norwich, after twenty-four hours’ rain. It was the sixth that had taken place since October 5th. “The waters were as high if not higher than on any former inundation of our marshes.”

23.—The Phenomena coach, with its Christmas load, started from Norwich, drawn by a team of six greys, “which were all managed by Mr. Thomas Wiggins, in a style which would have done credit to a first-rate whip, and which was never before attempted by any coachman on the road.”

24.*—“We have lately had exhibited in Norwich a new system of skaiting on the saloon in the Ranelagh Gardens and at the Corn Exchange. It is called Tachypos, and is a kind of skait each running on two iron wheels about six inches in diameter, and fastens on to the foot in a similar way to the common skait, with protection to the legs up to the knees. With these persons may travel at the rate of nine miles an hour upon the common road. The Tachypos is invented by Mr. J. Ayton, of this city, and differs considerably from the Tachypos lately exhibited at the principal theatres in London. There are at this moment boys exhibiting upon them, and are cutting round the corners and corn-stands with all imaginable ease and rapidity.”

—Wombwell’s Menagerie arrived at Norwich, and was exhibited on the Castle Hill. The collection included a pair of giraffes, one of which was killed by an accidental fall. “The elephant is a magnificent animal, but we think the walking exercise which Van Amburgh’s elephant is obliged to take, instead of being drawn from place to place by some twelve horses, conduces to a clearer complexion and a better state of health.” For the first time, Wombwell advertised that he had a keeper “who goes into the den of the trained lions and tigers.”

1842.

JANUARY.

7.—At a meeting of the county magistrates, held at Norwich, the Earl of Orford presented a petition signed by a very large number of occupiers of land, “praying for a considerable change, if not a total abrogation, of the police force, as the introduction of the force had not decreased either the number of robberies or cases of vagrancy, while the expenses of the county were much increased by the costs arising from the prosecution of persons apprehended by the police for offences of a very trivial nature.” The Rev. J. C. Collyer presented a counter petition from the clergy, landowners, and inhabitants of Reepham, “praying that no alteration take place in the county police, which had been found a most useful body in that part of the county.” A resolution was unanimously adopted affirming that great benefits had been derived from the introduction of the police, and thanking Col. Oakes, the Chief Constable, for his exertions in the formation of the force.

8.—Deputations from the various agricultural societies in East Norfolk attended a meeting at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, at which the East Norfolk Agricultural Association was formed, for the exhibition of stock and agricultural implements in Norwich or its vicinity. Lord Wodehouse was elected president, and Mr. E. C. Bailey secretary. The first show was held on Norwich Cricket Ground, on September 13th. There were twenty-four classes of live stock, and four entries of implements; 800 persons were present, and the sum of £40 was taken at the gates. Lord Wodehouse presided at the dinner, held at the Assembly Rooms.

14.—The Lynn mail coach, on its journey to London, overturned between Melbourne and Royston, and Simpson, the coachman, was killed.

15.—“Died last week, in the 85th year of his age, Mr. Thos. Leech, hosier, one of the oldest inhabitants of Diss. He was the representative of the venerable Bishop Blaize in the last procession of the wool-combers held at Diss at about the same time the like pageant was exhibited at Norwich, Diss having been esteemed a great manufactory of hosiery, and one of the chief in Norfolk and Suffolk.”

19.—At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was decided to celebrate the christening of the Prince of Wales by the erection of an almshouse, and to raise £1,000 for carrying out the scheme. At an adjourned meeting, on January 25th, the resolution was rescinded, because “the opening of an alms-house was only the opening of a pauper warren.” On the same day a dinner was given at the Royal Hotel, a ball took place at the Assembly Rooms, and the inmates of the Workhouse were entertained.

FEBRUARY.

5.—Richard Cricknell, the Norwich pugilist, died on this date. “He had never been well since he fought with Cain (on January 7th, 1840, q.v.); the injury which he received to his head deprived him of his reason, and he had since been in the Bethel.”

6.—Died at Budleigh-Salterton, near Exeter, aged 70, the Rev. William Gilpin, who had been twice stationed in Norwich as Wesleyan Superintendent, namely, in 1809 and 1824, during which periods “the great chapels” in Calvert Street and St. Peter Mancroft were erected.

9.—Died at his seat at Thorpe Lodge, aged 87, Lieut.-Col. Harvey, a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant of the county, and a justice of the peace for Norwich. He was also “Father of the City.” Born in 1755, he was elected Sheriff of Norwich in 1784, Alderman for the Middle Wymer Ward in 1787, and Mayor in 1792. During the war which was terminated by the Treaty of Amiens he raised and commanded a troop of Volunteer Cavalry, called the Norwich Light Horse, which, on the renewal of hostilities with France, was augmented to a squadron, of which he was appointed Major. In 1824 he became by seniority Lieut.-Col. Commandant of the 3rd Regiment of Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry and continued at the head of the corps until the three county regiments were disembodied. In 1825–26 he served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk. The Thorpe Lodge estate was sold at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, by Mr. Culley on June 9th and 10th. The amount realised by the auction was £35,000 and sales by private contract brought the amount to £50,000.

10.—Lord Jocelyn was elected unopposed Member of Parliament for Lynn, to fill the vacancy caused by the appointment of Sir Stratford Canning as Ambassador at Constantinople.

26.—A prospectus was issued inviting the public to subscribe £800 in 40 shares of £20 each, for the purchase of a steam carriage (patented by Mr. W. Parr) to run for hire between Norwich and Yarmouth. (There is no further record of the proposed undertaking.)

MARCH.

7.—The Norwich weavers commenced a strike to enforce a return to the scheduled prices paid in 1836. The women and girls employed at Mr. Wright’s factory struck on July 19th, and paraded the streets with alms-boxes; and on August 22nd the jacquard weavers adopted a similar course. In the latter case Mr. Hinde and Mr. Steward agreed to their demands, and Messrs. Willett and Francis urged the making of mutual concessions.

—Died, aged 86, Elizabeth Hawes, widow, of Coltishall. “She was born and reared in humble life, and was the only sister of that eminent scholar, Richard Porson, and though under widely different circumstances, her mind showed traces of the relationship in perception, memory, and the power of application.”

23.—Disturbances took place at Lynn in consequence of a reduction in the wages of coal porters and sailors. The rural police were summoned, special constables sworn in, and a troop of the 13th Light Dragoons were ordered from Norwich. Several of the ringleaders were sent to jail.

26.—The publication of Part I. of Mr. David Hodgson’s “Antiquarian Remains, Principally Confined to Norwich and Norfolk,” was announced on this date.

—*“A plan has been set on foot for the establishment of an Art Union for East Anglia, with the view of giving encouragement to the fine arts in this county and its vicinity. The exhibition is intended to be opened at Norwich at or prior to the Festival week.” The society was known as the East of England Art Union, and the first exhibition was opened “at their well-lighted gallery in Exchange Street,” on July 27th. The exhibitors included J. Stark, J. B. Crome, S. B. Colkett, M. E. Cotman, A. Stannard, R. Ladbrooke, J. B. Ladbrooke, T. Lound, R. Leman, &c.

APRIL.

4.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Serjeant Atcherley, George Barber, aged ten years, was indicted, upon the Coroner’s inquisition, for murdering John Smith, aged eight, by throwing him over Shotford Bridge into the river Waveney, on November 6th, 1841. The only direct evidence to criminate the prisoner was his own confession, which was extracted from him by a witness who had chained him up and frightened him by threats. The Commissioner directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, who was afterwards received into the establishment of the Philanthropic Society, St. George’s Fields, London.

5.—A singular case was tried at the Norfolk Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal. The defendants, John Utting and Anna Bunn, were indicted for conspiring against one Daniel Durrant, of Winterton, a criminal then under sentence of transportation for life. Durrant, at the Summer Assizes in 1841, was charged with committing a rape upon Bunn, on whose evidence and that of John Utting, a constable at Filby, he was convicted and sentenced. Soon afterwards Durrant’s wife died of grief, and Bunn, labouring under the pangs of remorse, confessed to the Rev. Mr. Sidney, of Acle, that the statements which procured the conviction of Durrant were false. It was further shown that Utting had planned with Bunn to ruin Durrant. The jury now found that Durrant was not guilty of the charge on which he was convicted, and returned a verdict of guilty against Utting, while Bunn, who had not been called upon to plead, was discharged. Utting was taken before the Court of Queen’s Bench, on May 9th, and was there sentenced by Mr. Justice Patteson to twelve calendar months’ imprisonment in Norwich Castle. “The issue of the prosecution was that Durrant was restored to liberty and returned home. Only three years ago he would have been executed for this crime. He was formerly an innkeeper, with a good business. Through this unfounded charge he has lost his wife, who died of a broken heart, and he and his three young children are now destitute.” Public subscriptions were made on behalf of this unfortunate man.

16.*—“During the Assizes the Norwich Scholars ascended the tower of St. Peter Mancroft and made a grand attempt to ring 6,729 changes of Stedman’s Cinques. They attained about 6,000, in four hours and a half, after which the gudgeon of the tenor broke, which, with the stock and implements, weighs 5,000 lbs. and upwards. It fell on the beams beneath with a tremendous crash, but sustained no injury. The ringers were more frightened than hurt.”

—*“Messrs. Whaites, of Ingham, have, in two days during the last fortnight, killed 116 couples of snipes; on the first day 54 couples, on the second day 62 couples.” Other remarkable feats of snipe shooting were recorded during the year. On October 15th Mr. Robert Fellowes, jun., killed, on Sir William Beauchamp Proctor’s marshes at Langley, 60 couple; and on November 17th, at Rockland, Mr. Richard Crawshay killed, at one shot, four snipe on the wing.

—The publication, by subscription, was announced of a new tragedy, entitled, “De Valencourt, or the Fate of Extremes,” by Mr. William Henry Hoskins, principal tragedian and deputy stage manager at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, and Mr. H. H. Hoskins, author of “The Spaniards’ Ransom,” &c. The publishers were C. Mitchell, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London; Matchett and Co. and Bacon and Co., Norwich. The play was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time on May 14th. “In the piece there is an imitation of Shakesperian language and dialogue; there are many striking, and some touching passages, but allied with much that is very strained and exaggerated.”

23.—Mr. Abington, “a graduated member of Trinity College, Cambridge, and also of the English Bar,” who had adopted the stage as a profession, made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre, as Hamlet.

MAY.

1.—A serious fire occurred at Hillington Hall, the seat of Sir William ffolkes, Bart. The fire was confined to the servants’ apartments, which were totally destroyed, and the main building was saved by the unroofing of the intervening structure.

6.—Samuel Wilkinson, of Mill Street, Peafield, appeared before the Norwich magistrates and stated that he wished to sell his wife. The magistrates referred him to the Ecclesiastical Court, but he said he would effect the sale and take the risk. On the 7th, at or near the Prussia Gardens, he sold his wife for a guinea, and received a sovereign on account. On the 10th Wilkinson was bound over to keep the peace for assaulting his wife. In the course of the hearing the following written agreement was produced:—

“This is to satfy that I Samyoul Wilkerson sold my wife to Mr. Gorge Springle for the sum of one pound one before witness.

Samyoul X Wilkerson Maryann Wilkerson X her mark Gorge Springle X his mark Frederick Cornish, witness.”

7.—Died, Mr. George Cooke Tucker, landlord of the New Inn, Cromer. “The present flourishing establishment was built and raised by him. Possessed of a peculiar courteousness of manner, and endowed with great kindness of disposition, he was alike esteemed by the resident gentry and the general inhabitants of the place and neighbourhood. He had reached the patriarchal age of ninety years.”

11.—Died, aged 62, Mr. William Norman, Windsor Place, New Lakenham, “many years hair dresser to his late Majesty George III.”

18.—At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the first time, a new melodrama, in three acts, entitled, “The Student of Jena,” by Mr. Wm. Cooper, B.A., barrister, of Norwich. “The play is founded on the romance of the ‘Diamond Watch,’ a piece of diablerie, emanating from the German school.”

26.—Thurlow, the pedestrian, commenced a walk of 2,000 miles in one thousand hours, at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich. (No further record.) Robert Skipper, “the celebrated pedestrian, of Norfolk and Norwich, having been absent on the Continent and in different counties, where he has won several matches, and is now in his 55th year,” began a walk on June 21st, of 50 miles per day for twenty successive days, at the Green Hill Gardens, St. Augustine’s Gates, Norwich. He completed the task on Sunday, July 10th, “and did not appear to be in the least distressed.”

28.—Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced, at Norwich Theatre, a five nights’ engagement, prior to their final retirement from the stage. The operas produced included “Fra Diavolo,” “Midas,” “La Somnambula,” and “Norma.”

—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry assembled at Swaffham for eight days’ permanent duty, under the command of Major Loftus.

30.—Cricket was revived in Norwich by a match played on this date, between the Norwich Club and the officers and privates of the 13th Light Dragoons. “Considerable fluctuation has for the last few years in Norwich marked the practice of this celebrated manly game, and about two years since nothing appeared more probable than its extinction.”

JUNE.

1.—Another instance of the holding in church of a public meeting for secular purposes occurred on this date. The inhabitants of Stoke Holy Cross assembled at the parish church to discuss the propriety of establishing a benefit society. Mr. T. Brightwell presided over the meeting.

14.—Died, aged 65, at Long Island, United States, Mr. John Hunt, engraver, formerly of Norwich. He was the author of a work on British ornithology.

19.—A severe thunderstorm occurred at Norwich. “The wind blew a perfect hurricane. Rushing in a straight line for Catton, it caught the high wall in St. Clement’s Square, and blew down about 30 yards of solid brickwork.” The sails of Catton mill were blown off, trees were torn up by the roots, and the river suddenly rose above the banks in places. At Harleston a marsh mill was overturned and houses were unroofed.

21.—Died at the Euston Hotel, London, Mr. Fred. Yates, aged 45, manager of the Adelphi Theatre. He married, in 1823, Miss F. Brunton, granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, of Norwich.

30.—Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, aged 88, Thomas William Coke, Earl of Leicester. His lordship was born on May 6th, 1753, and was returned for Norfolk in 1776. With one brief intermission, he continued to represent the county until 1832. He was created Earl of Leicester in 1837. He married, in his twenty-third year, his cousin Jane, youngest daughter of Mr. James Dutton, who died June 2nd, 1800, leaving no male issue. After remaining twenty-two years a widower, he married, February 26th, 1822, Lady Anne Amelia Keppel, third daughter of the Earl of Albemarle, her ladyship being then 19 and Mr. Coke 70 years of age. The issue of the marriage were Thomas William, born in 1822; Edward Keppel, 1824; Henry Coke, 1827; Wenman Clarence Walpole, 1828; and Margaret Sophia, who, at the Earl’s death was only ten years of age. The remains of the deceased nobleman arrived at Swaffham on July 10th, and were placed in the large room at the Crown Inn. From four o’clock in the afternoon until nine in the evening the body lay in state, and immense numbers of persons passed through the apartment. At nine o’clock on the morning of the 11th, muffled peals were rung, and at eleven o’clock the funeral procession started for Tittleshall. It passed through Castle-acre, the Lexhams, and Litcham. “At every spot where the main road crossed the cross roads were carriages in waiting to fall into the procession, which, marching in close order, was two miles in length.” At Tittleshall church, where the interment took place, there was a great gathering of the personal friends and tenantry of the deceased earl.

JULY.

2.—Died at Hexham, Northumberland, aged 86, Mr. William Cooke, formerly of North Creake. “About 60 years ago, under the auspices of Mr. T. W. Coke, and upon the estate of Earl Spencer, he introduced into Norfolk the drill system for corn. He subsequently introduced into the same county the Northumberland turnip husbandry, and, in conjunction with Sir Mordaunt Martin and Dr. Letsome, established the cultivation of mangold wurzle in England. During his latter years he devoted much time and his high mathematical attainments to perfecting the plough.”

4.—The first meeting for enforcing the Income-Tax was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, when Commissioners were appointed for the several Hundreds named in the Act of Parliament. Similar meetings took place at Yarmouth and Lynn.

6.—Races were held at East Dereham. The other meetings this season were at Norwich on July 12th and 13th, Downham July 22nd, and Yarmouth September 6th and 7th.

9.—The funeral of Lord Townshend, who died at Hutton Lodge, Yorkshire, on June 28th, aged 56 years, took place at Bintry church.

14.—Major Boxall, of Swaffham, was killed at the brewery of Mr. Morse, in that town, by the fall of a portion of the roof.

16.—At a meeting of the yeomanry and tenantry of both political parties, held at the Swan Inn, Norwich, it was decided to erect, by public subscription, a monument to the memory of the late Earl of Leicester. (See January 7th, 1843.)

23.—A correspondent, writing under this date to the Norfolk Chronicle, complained of the danger and annoyance caused on the public roads by vehicles drawn by dogs. “If,” he wrote, “Parliament deemed it necessary two years ago to pass an Act prohibiting, under a severe penalty, the use of dogs as beasts of draught or burden in London and its neighbourhood for twenty miles around, surely the same necessity, as well on the score of humanity as of personal security to the public, does exist in reference to every other portion of the kingdom.”

24.—Died, aged 60, at Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, London, John Sell Cotman.

AUGUST.

1.—An acrobat, named Alleni, was descending a rope “in his chariot of fire,” at the Greyhound Gardens, Ber Street, Norwich, when his apparatus failed, the rope broke, and the unfortunate performer, falling a distance of thirty feet, was seriously injured.

6.—A correspondent complained that the “unrivalled tower” of Norwich Cathedral, then undergoing restoration, was “under the care of a plasterer, to be patched and pieced in his best manner with a compound of villainous ingredients scarcely tolerable on a shop front.” Mr. John Brown, the Cathedral architect, replied, on August 10th, to the effect that the substance used was not plaster, but “hydraulic cement, calcined limestone and sand, which is more durable than stone.” Much newspaper controversy ensued.

20.*—“Last week a block of granite of nearly two tons weight was fixed on the south battlement of Norwich Castle, containing the following inscription:—“This Royal Castle, built by William Rufus, as Knychton testifies in his Chronicle, on the site of one much more ancient, has been used as a county gaol since the year 1345, and was finally vested in the magistrates of Norfolk for that purpose by Royal grant confirmed by Parliament in 1806. The ornamental work and facing of the exterior having fallen into a state of extreme decay, the same was ordered to be restored at the expense of the county by the Court of Quarter Sessions, in April, 1834. Its restoration was carried into effect with the most careful adherence to the details of the antient work in Bath stone, as most resembling that of Normandy, which had been originally used, under the superintendence of the visiting justices, and completed in 1839. The battlements and corbel table were designed from the best discoverable authorities, as no portion remained of the original termination of the building. Anthony Salvin, Esq., of London, architect; Mr. James Watson, of Norwich, stonemason.” [The Norfolk Chronicle expressed regret “at the necessity, if any such existed, for the adoption of a process which has for ever hidden from human eyes the whole exterior of this celebrated Anglo-Norman keep.”]

27.—A finner whale, discovered stranded upon a shoal in Lynn Roads, was secured by a boat’s crew who fastened a rope to its tail. When the tide rose the whale dragged the boat with great velocity towards the town. After a struggle of seven hours, it was landed. It measured 50 ft. in length.

—*“Her Majesty has been pleased to grant unto William Hardy Cozens, Esq., of Letheringsett, her Royal licence to take and use the surname and arms of Hardy, in addition to his present name, in compliance with a condition contained in the will of his late uncle, William Hardy, Esq., of Letheringsett Hall.”

30.—A great rowing match took place on the Yare, at Norwich, in the presence of thousands of spectators. The match, which was open to all England, was for a subscription cup or purse of £50, and was to be rowed in four-oared 36ft. boats, by amateurs. Competing crews were entered by the Leander Club, London; King’s College Club, London; the Cambridge Amateur Club, and the Norwich Amateur Club. The odds throughout were greatly in favour of the Londoners, and many heavy bets were made on Cambridge. The course, about three miles, was from stakes on Bramerton Common to a spot nearly opposite Thorpe Gardens. “The boats started two and two; the first two boats were started 100 yards apart at the same time; the winning boat of each pair had therefore to row another heat. By the casting of lots, the Leander was pitted against King’s College, and Norwich against Cambridge. The Leander had the lead of King’s College, and Cambridge the lead of Norwich.” King’s College and Norwich won the first heat—the former in 22 minutes 30 seconds, and the latter in 21 minutes 30 seconds. In the final heat Norwich beat King’s College easily. The winning crew were composed as follow:—J. Kidd, 9 st. 10 lb.; J. Wigham, 10 st. 9 lb.; W. Clabburn, 11 st. 7 lb.; T. Clabburn (stroke), 9 st. 2 lb.; F. Bolingbroke (cox.), 8 st. 11 lb. Trained by Noulton.

—The Royal squadron accompanying the Queen on her voyage to Scotland passed Yarmouth at five am. On the return of her Majesty, on the evening of September 16th, several yawls put out to sea, and the occupants were gratified with a sight of the Queen and Prince Albert on the main deck of the Trident steamer. Loud cheers were given for the Sovereign and her Consort.

SEPTEMBER.

10.—The publication of Part I. of Mr. Henry Ninham’s “Picturesque Antiquities of Norwich” was announced.

13.—The Norfolk and Norwich Musical Festival commenced. Miscellaneous concerts were given at St. Andrew’s Hall on the evenings of the 13th, 14th, and 15th. The morning performances included, on the 14th, Parts II. and III. of the “Creation”; on the 15th, Parts II. and III. of “The Fall of Babylon” (composed expressly for the Festival by Spohr); and on the 16th, “Samson.” A fancy dress ball was given on the night of the 16th. The artistes engaged at the Festival were: Madame Caradori Allan, Miss Rainforth, Miss Maria B. Hawes, Miss Bassano, and Signora Pacini; Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Balfe, Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Young, Mr. Walton, and Signor Rubini. Professor Taylor conducted. The surplus amounted to £716 15s. 2d.

—A circus company, under the management of Madame Ducrow, commenced a series of performances at Norwich Theatre. “The whole of the stage, 43 ft. square, was formed into a circus ring, decorated round with appropriate devices. The circle was rendered moveable, so that dramatic representations similar to the late Astley’s Amphitheatre were introduced.” These included “The Spanish Bullfight, or the Muleteer,” “Mazeppa,” “The Secret Mine, or the Hindoos of the Ruby Cliffs,” &c. To enable the audience to obtain a full view of the ring performances, the floor of the pit was raised.

14.—Died at Yarmouth, in his 49th year, Mr. J. B. Crome. “Besides inheriting the talents of that well-known ‘Father’ of the Norwich school of painting, he possessed literary attainments and theoretical knowledge which conferred both honour and advantage on his practical pursuits of Art.”

24.*—“The Queen has been pleased to grant unto the Rev. James Tooke Hales, of Glazenwood, in Essex, and of Thompson, in Norfolk, her Royal license and authority to assume the surname of Tooke in addition to and after that of Hales, and to bear the arms of Tooke.”

—*“Mr. C. F. Hall, of Norwich, has been appointed second leader of the orchestra of Drury Lane Theatre, after a contest of skill. He is the composer of two ballads, ‘I have dream’d of hopes defeated’ and ‘The Inconstant.’”

OCTOBER.

8.*—“At a late sitting of the magistrates at Litcham to hear appeals against assessed taxes, Mr. Lynes, one of the appellants, accused the Surveyor of Taxes of partial conduct. He alleged that Mr. F. Beck, of Mileham, owned greyhounds for which he was not charged duty. Mr. Beck jumped up and got hold of Mr. Lynes’ nose, which he held for some time. Mr. Lynes retaliated by striking Mr. Beck several blows on the head and face, and a battle ensued. The police interfered, and Capt. Fitzroy ordered the parties into custody. It was stated that there had previously been a quarrel between Mr. King, the magistrates’ clerk, Mr. Beck, and Mr. Lynes, and Mr. King had challenged the latter to fight a duel. Mr. King acknowledged that he had sent a challenge. For the fight in the magistrates’ room Mr. Beck and Mr. Lynes were bound over to keep the peace for twelve months. Mr. King was also bound over in sureties to keep the peace towards Mr. Lynes for twelve months.” At the Norfolk Assizes, on April 3rd, 1843, the action Lynes v. Beck, for assault, was tried before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, and judgment was given for the plaintiff, damages one shilling. The Judge remarked that the assault was of a very degrading and contumacious character.

11.—Died at his house on Scoles’ Green, Norwich, Mr. Robert Ladbrooke, artist, in his 73rd year.

13.—Died at Tunbridge Wells, aged 55, Sir John Jacob Buxton, Bart., of Shadwell Park, Norfolk, and of Tockenham House, Wilts. He served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1841–2.

19.—At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, Johnson Hemnell was sentenced to fifteen years’ transportation for stealing promissory notes, gold, and silver, to the amount of £150, the property of Mr. Harrison Wells, of Dilham. On the night after his conviction the convict accompanied two of the prison warders to Seething, where he showed them a garden bank in which £108 of the stolen money was found concealed.

NOVEMBER.

7.—An inquest was held at the Hare Arms, Stow Bardolph, on the body of John Vare, who died under singular circumstances. On October 24th, at the Swan Inn, Downham, “he recited with considerable spirit to a party of tradesmen a piece out of ‘Othello,’ and at the finish, where Othello dies, deceased, as in the character, fell with considerable violence on the hearthrug at full length with his face down wards. He complained of considerable pain, went home, and died.”

9.—Mr. Alderman Mitchell was elected Mayor, and Mr. William Freeman appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

18.—Died at Rawal Pindi, Lieut. Richard Edward Frere, 13th Light Infantry, aged 25. He had been in every action throughout the war in Afghanistan, was repeatedly wounded, and was mentioned with distinction in dispatches.

19.*—“Messrs. Wells and Gardner, of Birmingham, have entered into an arrangement with T. T. Berney, Esq., of Morton Hall, Norfolk, for the manufacture of his patent cartridges so much approved by gentlemen and sportsmen generally, and have appointed local agents.”

26.*—“Sir Robert Peel has recommended her Majesty to grant an annual pension of £100 to Mr. John Curtis, the eminent naturalist and author of the great work, ‘British Entomology.’” Curtis was a native of Norwich.

DECEMBER.

24.—A singular story of a supposed murder was published. A human skeleton was recovered from the bed of the river at Costessey Mills by a “didling” boat owned by Messrs. Culley. The circumstance was recalled that a Jew pedlar, known as “Old Abraham,” had mysteriously disappeared eight years previously. It was also remembered that one Robert Page, sentenced to transportation for life for sheep stealing at Drayton, on March 27th, 1834, had told the prison warders that if he were taken to Costessey he could show them, beneath a willow tree, “something that would make their hair stand on end.” By a curious coincidence, the skeleton was found beneath a willow which overhung the river. It was stated that the body had been staked down in the bed of the stream.

31.*—“During last week the coaches and vans were laden with turkeys and game for London. From the Magnet Office alone upwards of 1,600 packages were consigned, containing at least 2,400 turkeys, besides geese and game. The other coaches have had their share. One manufacturing firm in the city sent 1,000 lbs. weight.”

1843.

JANUARY.

2.—Norwich Theatre opened for the season at reduced prices of admission, namely, boxes, single ticket, 4s., half price 2s., family tickets to admit six £1; upper boxes 2s., half price 1s.; pit 1s. (no half price); gallery 6d. The entire house had been redecorated by Mr. Thorne. Mr. Frederick Vining, of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and his daughter, Miss Vining, appeared on the 16th in the parts of Benedict and Beatrice, and fulfilled an engagement of seven weeks. The season, one of the most successful that Mr. Smith had experienced, was chiefly remarkable for the large number of “bespeaks” given, amongst others, by the officers of the 13th Light Dragoons, the Royal and Norfolk Hotel Wine Clubs, the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Court of Guardians, &c.

5.—A heavy fall of snow on this day was accompanied by lightning and thunder.

6.—The first annual meeting of the Norfolk Flax Society, the object of which was “to promote the cultivation of a plant for the produce of which vast sums of money are annually sent abroad,” was held at Norwich. It was stated that the soil and climate of the county were “equal and perhaps superior to any in the world for the growth and perfection of the plant, and its cultivation would be more profitable than that of any other crop.” The method of “forming linseed into compound to fatten cattle” was demonstrated in a booth on the Castle Meadow, and an exhibition of articles manufactured from flax was held at St. Andrew’s Hall. The Hon. W. R Rous was President of the Society, to which about eighty prominent agriculturists belonged. M. Demann, a Belgian agriculturist, was engaged as the Society’s agent, and many meetings were held in the county in furtherance of the movement.

7.—The promoters of the scheme for the erection of the Leicester monument appointed a “committee of taste,” who recommended the building of a column, of artistic design. At a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel, on January 21st, the much vexed question of the site was discussed and a decision was given in favour of Holkham Park, mainly by the votes of a number of subscribers of ten shillings each in the neighbourhood of Wells. Efforts were made to secure the erection of the monument at Norwich, and the supporters of either place were invited to vote upon the subject. After the poll a scrutiny was held, and on August 5th it was announced that 322 votes had been given in favour of Holkham, and 281 in favour of Norwich.

9.—Died, aged 60, at Birmingham, Mr. Vaughan, “the highly respectable musician and once excellent tenor singer.” He was a native of Norwich, and when quite young was a member of the choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. He was afterwards engaged at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Chapel Royal. On the death of Mr. Harrison, in 1812, Mr. Vaughan was appointed principal tenor at the King’s Concerts of Ancient Music, he sang at most of the provincial musical festivals, and was a member of several musical clubs in the Metropolis.

FEBRUARY.

14.—The first touring circus in Norfolk at which performances were given under canvas was that belonging to Batty, “sole proprietor of Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre,” who on this date erected at Lynn Mart a tent 65 ft. in height and 300 ft. in circumference. It was the same tent placed on the site of the Royal Exchange when Prince Albert laid the first stone of the new building, and on that occasion it afforded accommodation for 1,400 persons. In the autumn of the same year Richard Sands’ American circus toured the county, giving one performance only in a “spacious pavilion” at each town visited. A procession of “twenty-five caparisoned horses” was a feature of the show. After this date the circus touring system became general during the summer and autumn months.

22.—Died at Caen, Normandy, aged 76, the Rev. T. D’Eterville, “a well-known and respected inhabitant of Norwich for upwards of forty years, who retired a few months ago to end his days in his native country.” [Borrow’s “preceptor in the French and Italian tongues.”]

23.—The coach from London to Norwich, driven by Thomas Wiggins, ran into a brewer’s dray at Tasburgh, during a thick fog and was overturned. Mr. Scott, of Newton Maid’s Head, one of the outside passengers, was jammed between the coach and a tree, which had to be cut down to extricate him, Wiggins was thrown head first off the box seat and severely injured, and the guard, Thomas, was dashed against a tree stump and killed outright, “his head being completely split open.” It was not until January 22nd, 1844, that Wiggins was able to resume his duties. It was then stated: “So highly is this excellent whip esteemed along the line of road, that at the several inns where the coach stopped to change horses it appeared as if the landlords had determined to celebrate the circumstance by making it a general gala day.”

26.—Died at Cheltenham, aged 60, Major-General Sir John Thomas Jones, Bart., K.C.B., of Cranmer Hall. He served in the Royal Engineers during the campaign in Calabria, and was present at the Battle of Maida and the attack on Scylla Castle; in the Peninsular campaign he was in the retreat to Corunna; he accompanied the expedition to Walcheren and was present at the reduction of Flushing, served in the campaigns of 1810, 1811, and 1812 in the Peninsula, received the medal for Badajos, and was shot through the ankle joint at the siege of Burgos, in October, 1812. He entered the service as second-lieutenant on August 30th, 1798, and retired with the rank of major-general on January 10th, 1837.

27.—Yarmouth Orange Fair was held. “Like the generality of fairs, it has fallen sadly out of repute, and but for the immense quantity of fruit from which it takes its name anyone might have passed the Market Place without noticing it.”

MARCH.

17.—At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, on the motion of Mr. A. Dalrymple, a petition to Parliament was adopted in opposition to the Income Tax, on the ground that it was “unjust, unwise, repugnant, and unproductive.”

18.—The Watton coach, on its way from Norwich, with six female outside passengers, stopped at Barford Cock. During the temporary absence of Allen, the coachman, the horses started off at full gallop, and were not stopped till they arrived at Hingham. With the exception of a wheel being taken off a passing vehicle, no damage was done.

APRIL.

4.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, was tried the case, the Queen against Edward Painter. The prosecution, for assault, was instituted by Mr. Jeremiah Cross, corn merchant, of Norwich. An indictment had been preferred at the Norwich Quarter Sessions and a true bill returned, which the defendant removed by writ of certiorari, and the case now came on for trial on the civil side of the Court. The plaintiff, in June, 1842, was invited to the Rising Sun Inn, kept by Mr. John Abel, and he was there met by Painter, who for several minutes thrashed him with an ash stick so severely that for a considerable time afterwards plaintiff was under medical treatment. For the defence it was alleged that Cross had grossly insulted the defendant’s daughter, hence the thrashing. The jury found a verdict of guilty, and on May 10th, when defendant appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench to receive judgment, he was fined one shilling and discharged. On June 24th the following advertisement was published: “Ned Painter having been subjected to the expense of wanton and persecuting litigation, his friends intend giving him a benefit at the Pantheon, Royal Victoria Gardens, on which occasion the Stars of the Fancy have resolved to rally round and support an old and tried veteran of the Prize Ring. Among the prominent professors of the Pugilistic Art who will appear are Tom Spring, Champion of England, and Ben Caunt, the modern champion.”

7.—Great excitement was created in Norwich by the conviction at the Assizes before Mr. Justice Coleridge, of John Harper, a well-known auctioneer, on the charge of stealing cloth entrusted to him for sale at North Walsham by a Leeds manufacturer named Jonas Driver. Mr. S. Bignold, Mr. Beckwith, solicitor; Mr. T. M. Keith, solicitor; the Rev. S. Stone, the Rev. W. Hull, and other prominent citizens testified to the general honesty and integrity of the prisoner, who, amid a strong manifestation of feeling in Court, was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.

7.—Mr. Cobden, M.P., Col. Thompson, and Mr. Moore, representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League, addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew’s Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Tillett. A body of Chartists created some disorder. On the 8th a meeting of farmers “of the most complete party complexion” took place at the Hall, when Mr. A. Morse, of Swaffham, “author of one of the prize essays of the League,” presided, and addresses were delivered by Mr. Cobden and his friends. The League at this date was actively promulgating its principles in all parts of the county.

15.—The ship Phya sailed from Lynn for Quebec, with emigrants. “Whilst the population keeps increasing, and machinery keeps lessening the demand for manual labour, many thousands must seek to provide for themselves and families in distant regions.”

20.—The construction of the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway commenced on this date on the Postwick Hall Farm (in the occupation of Mr. Gillett), near Thorpe Asylum. The excavation of the New Cut from Trowse Hythe to Whitlingham Reach was begun on May 6th. In October an engine with ballast waggons was running between Reedham and Yarmouth; and in November another engine appeared on the Postwick end of the line. “Its marvellous facility in whirling along any number of loaded waggons elicited exclamations of astonishment from the many hundreds of Norwich people who went out to see it.” (See April 12th, 1844.)

—In the waistband of the trousers of a notorious housebreaker, named James Fisk, who was apprehended at Surlingham on this date, “was found sewed up the Lord’s Prayer, written backwards, which he carried about with him as a fancied protection against the power of human law.”

—The marriage of the Earl of Leicester and Miss Whitbread, daughter of Mr. S. C. Whitbread, at Cardington church, Bedfordshire, was celebrated with great rejoicings at Wells-next-the-Sea, where 800 school children were entertained, and 1,400 of the poor inhabitants had dinner on the Buttlands.

21.—At Norwich Theatre was performed a new drama, entitled, “Mokanna, or the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan,” written by Mr. William Cooper, barrister, and originally produced at Lynn Theatre. An anonymous handbill, printed by J. Fletcher, Upper Haymarket, Norwich, was afterwards circulated, describing the play as a “barefaced exhibition of profligacy,” and calling upon the citizens to denounce it. The strictures were grossly unfair.

25.—The foundation-stone of St. Mark’s church, Lakenham, was laid by the Very Rev. Dean Pellew. The architect was Mr. John Brown, and the builder Mr. James Worman. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on September 24th, 1844.

28.—The two troops of the 13th Light Dragoons marched from Norwich Barracks for Hounslow. They were replaced on May 22nd by the Scots Greys, commanded by Col. Clarke. Mainly through the influence of the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Douro, the headquarters of the regiment were stationed at Norwich.

MAY.

4.—Business was entirely suspended in Norwich on the occasion of the funeral of H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex. The Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, and afterwards assembled at the Guildhall and adopted addresses of sympathy.

6.—At the Norwich Police Court, a woman named Kedge complained to the magistrates that another woman, of the name of Clarke, had bewitched her “by sending her and her children a vast number of vermin.” Clarke replied that Mrs. Kedge had harboured her (Mrs. Clarke’s) husband, and had given her a small piece of paper, whereon was very small writing. It was found to be the Lord’s Prayer. Mrs. Kedge acknowledged having given this to Mrs. Clarke, and said it would “prevent her from doing her further injury, for when she had herself put it in defendant’s hands, all danger from witchery was over.”

13.*—“One day last week a steam coach, constructed on a new principle, was tried at Witton, on the Yarmouth road, before a large concourse of spectators, but although the steam was put on, the coach would not move an inch. When pushed it proceeded a short distance and stopped. The experimenters at last lifted the coach from the road, when the wheels went round with alarming velocity.” On May 27th the carriage was advertised for sale by private contract, by Mr. Joseph Emmerson Bane, at the King’s Head Inn, Blofield.

—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Major Loftus, commenced their annual eight days’ training at Fakenham.

17.—The inhabitants residing in the vicinity of Duke’s Palace Bridge memorialised the Norwich Town Council to take the necessary steps to free the bridge from toll.

18.—Died at his residence in Union Street, South Lynn, Mr. Peter Lewis Dacheux, an immigrant from France, aged 83. “He had resided at Lynn for many years, and had long officiated as Roman Catholic priest in that town. He was a schoolfellow of Bonaparte, and in his boyish days had many a scuffle with that celebrated personage.”

23.—Mr. Braham, assisted by his son and pupil, Mr. Charles Braham, gave a concert at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich.

JUNE.

13.—The Norwich Town Council decided, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, to memorialise the House of Commons in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill’s scheme of penny postage.

14.—Norwich Theatre was re-opened for a limited number of nights at the close of the regular season, when “The Tempest” was produced from the original text, with Miss Grant as Ariel, and Miss Vining as Miranda. On the occasion of her benefit, on June 27th, Miss Grant took the part of Tom Tug, in “The Waterman.”

15.—On opening the East of England Bank at Lynn, it was discovered that during the preceding night upwards of £4,000 had been stolen. A clerk, named William Henry Sangar, aged nineteen, had committed the theft, in the absence of Mr. Spiller, the manager, and had absconded. He was apprehended on July 3rd, at Pooley Bridge, Ullswater, with £4,300 in his possession. At Lynn Quarter Sessions, on July 17th, he was charged before the Recorder, Mr. Martin J. West, with stealing £4,362 1s. 6d., and, on pleading guilty, was sentenced to fourteen years’ transportation. The Recorder expressed the hope that he would not have to appear at the Assizes to answer the still more serious charge of forgery. He was, however, indicted at the Norfolk Assizes on August 3rd, on two counts, for forgery, and on pleading guilty was sentenced by Baron Alderson to transportation for life.

16.—For nearly three hours “the sun was surrounded by a bright and beautiful halo, whilst several others appeared in its vicinity, intersecting the main one in several directions.” A similar appearance was observed in the summer of 1826.

JULY.

1.—The fares by the Royal Norwich mail from the Star, Haymarket, to the Belle Sauvage, Ludgate Hill, were reduced from this date to 16s. inside and 8s. outside.

4.—Mr. Charles Gill and Miss Vining, two popular performers with the Norwich Company, eloped from the city. “The attachment between the parties has been of long standing, but it was opposed by the young lady’s friends, on account of the disparity of years.” Mr. and Mrs. Gill appeared at Yarmouth Theatre on September 8th.

—Died at North Walsham, Captain Thomas Withers, R.N., aged 73. He entered the service in 1793, joined Nelson in the Agamemnon, which formed part of Lord Hood’s fleet at the occupation of Toulon, and took part in the reduction of Bastia and Calvi, and in the several actions in which the ship was engaged. In 1796 he joined the Captain, and in the following year, in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, had the distinguished honour of commanding the division which boarded the San Nicolas, and from that ship the San Josef. He was made lieutenant next day, and soon after appointed to the Terrible, under the command of Sir Richard Bickerton, and served during the expedition against the French in Egypt. In April, 1803, he was appointed to the command of the Expedition (44 guns), and was chiefly engaged in the Mediterranean until 1804. In 1805 he accepted employment under the Transport Board, and in 1809 received post rank.

8.—A whirlwind occurred at Blakeney. In its course it carried away several yards of a wall two feet thick, took from some smacks the hatchings, which were blown upon the marshes, and blew a man off the seat of a threshing machine. The stable at the White Horse was unroofed, and a quantity of Mr. Temple’s hay was blown to the distance of a mile.

15.—Arising out of an assault case, a curious story about witchcraft was told to the Norwich magistrates. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis alleged that a Mrs. Bell had bewitched them three days after Tombland Fair, and they had been bewitched ever since. “Mrs. Curtis saw Mrs. Bell light a candle and fill it with pins. She then put some red dragon’s blood, with some water, into an oyster-shell, and having repeated a form of words over it, her (Mr. Curtis’) husband’s arms and legs were set fast, and when he lay down he could not get up again without somebody helping him.” The man made a similar statement, and said that to the dragon’s blood and water Mrs. Bell added some parings of her own nails, put the mixture over the fire, and muttered an incantation.

19.—A young man named Robert Smithson “wagered that he would run over the nine bridges in Norwich in twenty-five minutes.” He performed the distance, nearly four miles, in twenty-two minutes.

24.—Died at Shotley Parsonage, Ipswich, aged 91, the Rev. Samuel Forster, D.D., formerly head-master of Norwich Free Grammar School. On resigning, in 1811, Dr. Forster became private tutor to the son of the Marquis of Bristol. Sir Edward Berry, Nelson’s flag captain at the Battle of the Nile, married the doctor’s eldest daughter.

29.*—“In the melancholy list of passengers on board the Pegasus, lost off the Fern Islands on July 19th, we are sorry to observe the name of Mr. Elton, for many years a favourite tragedian in the Norwich Company, and latterly holding a most respectable station on the London boards.”

—The Assize week performances at Norwich Theatre opened with the appearance of Miss Montague, of Drury Lane, as Juliet. On July 31st Miss Clara Novello, Miss Sybella Novello, Mr. Manvers, and Mr. Stretton, of Drury Lane, performed in Belleni’s opera, “Norma,” and in “Acis and Galatea”; and on August 7th Madame Céleste and Mr. Webster commenced a four nights’ engagement in “St. Mary’s Eve,” “The Woman Hater,” and “The French Spy.”

AUGUST.

6.—Died at Gaywood, aged 70, Mr. Thomas Marsters, for many years the representative at Lynn of the Norfolk Chronicle. “He was extensively read in the poets and classics, and his taste for the drama induced him, when he resided at Gaywood Hall, to become lessee of Lynn Theatre, on the boards of which he occasionally performed as an amateur.”

9.—Norwich and many parts of the county were visited by one of the severest thunderstorms that had occurred for many years. It was accompanied by a hailstorm which did immense damage—in the city windows and conservatories were smashed, in the county garden and field crops were destroyed. The first floors and cellars in Surrey Street, St. Stephen’s Street, Rampant Horse Street, the Market Place, and London Street were flooded, and in places morsels of ice lay from four to five inches deep. The storm lasted half an hour. The performance at the Theatre was stopped, and the terrified audience in the gallery rushed down the stairs and found the passage filled with water, which prevented their escape. The river at Bishop Bridge rose one foot in five minutes. At two o’clock on the morning of the 10th, the rain and hail again descended with great violence, and “a surface of flame spread across the heavens, followed by a clap of thunder which seemed to rend the welkin.” Another storm occurred on the 15th, and on the 18th waterspouts were observed at Rushall and Dickleburgh. At a meeting at the Bishop’s Palace on the 19th, steps were taken for the relief of the sufferers, a public subscription organized, and surveyors appointed to assess the damage. In September the Committee reported that the total losses amounted to £30,770 2s. 3d. In some parishes a voluntary rate of threepence in the pound was paid to assist the relief fund. The contributions from the parishes amounted to £5,622, and individual subscriptions to £4,391.

16.—The left wing of the Cavalry Barracks at Norwich was destroyed by a fire which originated in the forage barn. The men of the Scots Greys succeeded in saving the remainder of the buildings.

31.—Died at Stisted Hall, Essex, aged 87, Mr. Charles Savill Onley, bencher of the Middle Temple. He was third son of Mr. Robert Harvey, merchant and banker, of Norwich, by Judith, daughter of Capt. Onley, R.N. Mr. Onley (then Mr. Charles Harvey) was called to the Bar on November 24th, 1790. In 1783 he was elected Steward, and in 1801 Recorder, of Norwich. In 1804 his portrait was painted by Lawrence, at the expense of the Corporation, and hung in St. Andrew’s Hall. In 1812 he was returned to Parliament, and at the dissolution in 1818 retired from the representation of the city, but sat for Carlow from 1820 to 1826. It was in December, 1822, that he took the name of Savill Onley, on the death of his maternal uncle, the Rev. Charles Onley, through whom he came to the possession of a fine estate in Essex, besides a large personal property. He resigned his Recordership in 1826. He was lieutenant-colonel of Col. Patteson’s battalion of Norwich Volunteers, enrolled in 1808 as a regiment of Local Militia. He married, first, Sarah, daughter of Mr. J. Haynes, by whom he had issue one son, Onley Savill Onley, who married his cousin Caroline, daughter of Mr. John Harvey, of Thorpe; and two daughters, Sarah, married to Mr. William Harvey, and Judith, to Mr. Charles Turner. Mrs. Harvey died in 1800, and he married, secondly, Charlotte, sister of his former wife.

SEPTEMBER.

7.—Father Mathew attended a temperance festival at Norwich. He addressed a meeting on St. Martin-at-Palace Plain in the morning, and a public gathering at St. Andrew’s Hall in the evening, at which the Lord Bishop and Mr. J. J. Gurney were present. On the 8th Father Mathew, from twelve to six o’clock, “administered the pledge to all who cared to receive it.” The Norfolk Chronicle observed: “We cannot but feel that the members of the Church of England are pledged to temperance already, and have therefore no necessity to repeat the pledge before a Romish priest.”

11.—The Earl of Leicester laid the foundation-stone of the new quay at Wells-next-the-Sea.

16.—A platform was erected on the summit of the spire of Norwich Cathedral by a party of Sappers and Miners, to support an observatory for the purpose of the trigonometrical survey then being made throughout the kingdom, by order of the Board of Ordnance.

23.*—“Died, lately, aged 101, Mr. Robert Holmes, of St. Augustine’s, Norwich.”

27.—Died at Ramsgate, Lieut.-General Beevor. He was the last surviving son of Mr. James Beevor, of Norwich. He served in Flanders in the campaigns of 1793–4–5; in 1801–2 he was actively employed in Egypt, and he took part in the protracted operations in the Peninsula and Portugal.

OCTOBER.

2.—Mrs. Fitzwilliam, of Covent Garden Theatre, commenced a six nights’ engagement at the Theatre Royal, Norwich. She was described as the first comic actress of the day and a most accomplished vocalist. On the 7th Mrs. Fitzwilliam was joined by Mr. Buckstone, of the Haymarket Theatre, with whom she appeared in “My Tender Charge” and “Foreign Airs and Native Graces.”

14.—In a case before the county justices at the Shirehall, Norwich, in which the keeper of Hellesdon toll-bar was summoned for unlawfully taking toll in respect of a vehicle called a “wheel machine,” interesting particulars were given of the contrivance, which belonged to a Norwich mechanic named Matthew Fish. It was described as “only a barrow worked by the feet, and not propelled by machinery.” The carriage was shown outside the Court, and “appeared to be a very ingenious machine, which could be worked at the rate of ten miles an hour on a level road.” It had three wheels and two levers. Mr. Repton, the clerk to the turnpike trustees, urged that the narrow wheels cut up the road more than those of heavy carriages, and that such contrivances for evading toll and the keeping of horses were increasing. These carriages were considered a nuisance on the roads, no horses liked to pass them, and the Act laid a heavy toll upon them to prevent them running on any turnpike at all. The matter was ultimately settled without a conviction.

16.—Carter, the “Lion King,” appeared at Norwich Theatre with his trained lions, &c., in a drama founded on the adventures of Mungo Park. “The submissive bearing with which they crouched to the lash and the utter want of animation and spirit which they exhibited, divested the exhibition of all sense of danger.”

17.—A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, several vessels were driven ashore, and five lives were lost off Bacton.

23.—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry paraded at East Dereham and received from the Lord Lieutenant of the county a standard, in commemoration of the honour conferred upon it by Prince Albert, in allowing the corps to be called after his name. “The helmets, which formerly were fronted with the Maltese Cross, now exhibit the Royal Arms.”

NOVEMBER.

9.—Mr. Freeman was elected Mayor, and Mr. George Lovick Coleman appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

25.—Mr. Murray announced the publication of “The Correspondence of William Taylor of Norwich (author of ‘English Synonyms’) with Robert Southey, Esq., from 1791 to 1830, with a memoir of his life and works,” by J. W. Robberds.

DECEMBER.

2.—A meeting of landowners, agriculturists, and merchants of the county, presided over by the High Sheriff (Mr. Tyssen), approved the scheme of the Norwich and Brandon Railway, expounded by Mr. G. P. Bidder. The estimated cost was £380,000, to be raised in 19,000 shares of £20 each. (See July 29th, 1845.)

9.—The first person in Norwich to advertise “patent photographic portraits” was Mr. Beard, of the Royal Bazaar. These likenesses were stated to be “surprisingly correct,” and severe chemical tests proved that they would “last to infinity.” The prices ranged from one to two guineas.

—Mr. George Pinson, Governor of Gressenhall Workhouse, was selected by the visiting justices Governor of the County Gaol at Norwich Castle, in succession to Mr. Johnson, resigned.

15.—Died in St. Peter Southgate, Norwich, John Smith, gardener, aged 102.

16.—The improvement of Briggs’ Street, Norwich, was completed, and the Paving Commissioners were paid £700 by the trustees of the D’Oyley fund.

19.—Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, widow of General Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, and daughter and sole heiress of Richard Warburton Lytton, of Knebworth Park, Herts. “She was mother of the Ambassador at Madrid, of Sir Edward, who succeeds to the estates, and of Mr. W. L. Bulwer, of Heydon Hall. The literary tastes and accomplishments of Mrs. Bulwer Lytton may have had an influence in early life upon her son’s mind. Many poems of hers circulated amongst her immediate friends are full of feeling and grace.”

26.—The report on the Christmas trade at Norwich stated that the stage coaches conveyed 3,036 hampers of game and poultry to London. Sykes’ waggons in five days conveyed to the Metropolitan market 68 tons of meat, game, and poultry, from Norfolk and Suffolk.

—For the first time for many years, Norwich Theatre opened on Boxing Day. The programme included “The Stranger,” “Cherry Bounce,” and the pantomime “Harlequin Baron Munchausen.” The other Christmas attractions were Batty’s Equestrian Company at the Pantheon, Victoria Gardens, and Wombwell’s Menagerie on the Castle Meadow.

1844.

JANUARY.

9.—A meeting was held at Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. T. Brightwell, at which it was resolved to raise a subscription to pay the legal expenses of Mr. John Francis and of four other recusants, proceeded against in the Court of Arches for failing to make a rate for repairing the parish church of St. George Colegate. When the case was heard in the Arches Court, counsel for Mr. Francis protested that upon the face of the citation it did not appear that he had been guilty of any ecclesiastical offence cognisable by the Court, neither did it appear that the parish church was in need of repair. These arguments were overruled by the Court, whereupon Mr. Francis took the case to the Court of Queen’s Bench, and on May 9th Mr. Justice Denman delivered judgment in favour of the appellant, on the ground that the citation was bad, because of there being no adequate allegation of any spiritual offence.

13.—Mr. H. J. Wallack, of Drury Lane Theatre, formerly a member of the Norwich circuit, and Mrs. Wallack, commenced an operatic engagement at Norwich Theatre, in the “Barber of Seville.”

FEBRUARY.

3.—In the Court of Exchequer, before Lord Abinger and a special jury, an information was heard against three persons named Phillips, of Swanton Abbot, for the recovery of penalties for a violation of the Excise laws by means of illicit distillation. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. It was stated that defendants had rendered themselves liable to penalties amounting to £12,000, but the Crown would be satisfied with a verdict for one penalty of £200, which, trebled, amounted to £600. Judgment was then entered for the last-named sum.

—Permission was given by the authorities of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for the formation of a hospital museum, on the understanding that there should be no alienation of the funds of the institution. On October 19th it was reported to the Governors that the museum had been completed, and an inscription on vellum was voted to Mr. William Dalrymple, in grateful acknowledgment of his donation of his entire collection in anatomy and pathology, and to Mr. J. G. Crosse for his valuable contributions. (See September 10th, 1845.)

7.—John Franklin, “known by the name of Bill Downey, the celebrated Southtown pedestrian,” for a wager of £10 walked from the Duke’s Head Inn, the Quay, Yarmouth, to the Shirehall, Norwich, and back, in eleven and a half hours.

8.—A meeting was held at North Walsham, for the purpose of forming a Protection Association against the attacks of the Anti-Corn Law League. Similar associations were formed in other parts of the county, and about fifty petitions were sent to Parliament, praying that no alteration be made in the state of the law.

10.*—“A society for insurance against damages by hail has been established in Norwich, an influential body of gentlemen having accepted the office of directors, and numerous parties have intimated their intention to take advantage of this institution.”

13.—A new historical play, entitled, “Zopyrus, the Hero of Persia,” by Mr. William Cooper, barrister, of Norwich, was produced for the first time at Norwich, Theatre.

15.—A singular person, named Jemima Cock, died at Long Stratton. “She was 78 years of age, and was known for many years as a letter-carrier of the Post Office, and although no scholar, was never known to make a mistake in that department. She once travelled the country as a seller of rakes and other implements. She wore top boots, kindly given to her by gentlemen of the village, and dressed her head with a hat like Mrs. Twankey’s in the play of the ‘Ladies’ Club,’ and long before, and at the time of her demise was, by order of the parish, made governess of the clink. She leaves no relative or friend to mourn her loss, save one, and those placed under her kind attention in prison-like confinement, and the poor weary barefooted traveller who wandered thither for shelter (and repose) from the fury of the pelting storm.”

20.—It was announced in the “London Gazette” that Sir E. L. Bulwer, Bart., in compliance with a direction contained in the will of his late mother, Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, of Knebworth, would thereafter use the surname of Lytton in addition to and after that of Bulwer, and also bear the arms of Lytton quarterly in the first quarter with his own family arms.

26.—An information was laid before the Docking magistrates by Robert Bullock, a common informer, against Mr. William Shearman, of Burnham, under 52 Geo. III., cap. 93, for having, on November 17th, 1843, “assisted Mr. Charles Edward Overman and 20 other persons in the taking of a hare by means of two greyhounds, the said act of assisting not being done in the company or presence and for the use of any person who had then duly obtained a certificate in his own right and who then and there used his own dogs for the taking of the said hare,” whereby he rendered himself liable to a penalty of £20. Evidence was adduced showing that the dogs which ran at the West Burnham Coursing Meeting, where the alleged offence took place, belonged to qualified persons. The Bench recorded a conviction, against which the defendant appealed, at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, held at Norwich on March 13th. The Court quashed the conviction. Twenty other cases depended upon the result of this appeal.