Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 12

-*"A man of the name of Baxter, formerly a respectable farmer at Buckenham, who took a rash resolution of refusing any kind of sustenance but water, which he continued to do for 38 days at the White Horse at Kenninghall, was induced to give up the same on Monday last by the offer of a n.o.ble lady to settle an allowance upon him. He some time ago persisted in the same mode of existence for 19 days."

9.-The church bells in city and county were tolled from twelve o'clock to two o'clock, on the occasion of the funeral of Lord Nelson at St. Paul's Cathedral.

12.-A subscription was made for the relief of the poor in Germany, who were suffering under the combined miseries of war and famine. About 300 was collected.

14.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall for the purpose of opposing the Norwich Paving Bill, and a pet.i.tion against the measure was signed by 1,600 owners and occupiers. On February 8th, the Mayor (Mr. Rigby) announced that "the respectability of the signatures to the pet.i.tion in favour of the Bill, and the large sum raised to defray the expenses of the application to Parliament, could not but determine its supporters to persevere firmly in promoting it." On February 24th, the aldermen, by ten votes to eight, ordered the city seal to be affixed to the Bill.

Leave was given on March 7th for the insertion of fresh notices in the Bill, in order that it might be carried before Parliament that Session.

The Bill was read a first time on April 21st, and was in due course transmitted to a committee of the House of Commons. The taking of evidence for and against the Bill concluded on May 21st, and on June 13th it pa.s.sed both Houses of Parliament and received the Royal a.s.sent. The first election of Commissioners under the Norwich Paving Act took place in July, and the first meeting of Commissioners was held on July 15th, when the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. Rigby) was appointed chairman; Mr. Elisha De Hague, clerk; Messrs. Harvey and Hudson, treasurers; and Mr. John Roots, surveyor.

15.-The vane and spindle of the "antient and beautiful spire" of St.

Gregory's Church, Norwich, were blown off during a severe gale.

FEBRUARY.

3.-On opening a vault at the church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, a live bat was found therein, of a greyish colour, where it had probably lain in a torpid state more than 32 years, the distance of time since the vault was before opened."

8.*-(Advt.) "A main of c.o.c.ks will be fought on Wednesday, February 19th, at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham, between the gentlemen of Fakenham and the gentlemen of Foulsham. Eleven mains, two byes, and one turn out for five guineas the battle, and ten guineas the odd. Feeders, George Syder for Fakenham; David Lamb for Foulsham."

9.-James Coleman, bricklayer, of Swardeston, was tolling the bell at the parish church, "when the crown and cannons broke from the bell, and she came down through both floors, killing him on the spot."

13.-Married, at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, Henry Robert Bowles, acting-manager at the Theatre Royal, to Miss Aickin, of the same theatre.

16.-Died, at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Thomas Troughton, aged 88.

"He was a member of the corps of Artillery raised for the internal defence during the Revolution of 1745, and is believed to be the last survivor of that loyal corps."

22.*-"The interior of the Cathedral is about to undergo a thorough cleaning and repair. It is sixty years since a similar repair was done."

It was re-opened November 22nd.

24.-At a quarterly a.s.sembly of the Corporation of Norwich an address was ordered to be presented to his Majesty, "expressive of their grat.i.tude for the paternal affection he has shown to his subjects by waiving every consideration for the public good in the appointment of men of the first abilities in the country to the high offices of State." A county meeting was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, on March 28th, when a similar resolution was adopted, congratulating his Majesty on the appointment of an administration "in whom the nation feels a well-grounded confidence."

Like addresses were presented by the Corporations of Yarmouth and King's Lynn.

27.-Landed at Yarmouth, on their return from the Continent, the 4th, 23rd, and 28th Regiments of Foot, and 300 riflemen, comprising the brigade commanded by General Paget.

MARCH.

1.*-"Lately, died, at the age of 113, Mrs. Roope, of Tharston, near Long Stratton. She lived to see her fifth generation."

5.-A troop of the King's German Legion (heavy cavalry) arrived at Norwich from Yarmouth, and on the following day proceeded on their march to Scotland.

7.-A public concert was given at Chapel Field House, Norwich. Vocalists: Mr. Vaughan and Mrs. Vaughan (formerly Miss Tennant); leader of the band, Mr. Parnell; at the pianoforte, Mr. Beckwith.

11.-The Board of Agriculture voted their gold medal to Mr. Thomas William c.o.ke, "for his extensive and successful mode of irrigation, by which he has converted a track of unprofitable boggy land in Norfolk into sound and excellent water meadows."

-The Marquis Townshend's 85th birthday was celebrated by a dinner at the Crown Inn, and by a ball and supper at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham.

15.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose, was tried the case, the King _v._ Anthony. This was an information filed against the defendant by the Attorney-General for a.s.saulting John Stevenson, an officer of Excise, while in the execution of his duty.

Stevenson called at the White Horse Inn, Edgefield, on December 2nd, 1805, and found smuggled liquor in panniers belonging to the defendant, whose ostensible trade was that of a vendor of oysters. The officer seized the panniers, but defendant, in regaining them, committed an a.s.sault. He was found guilty, and the case was remitted to the King's Bench for judgment. (No further record appears.)

-*(Advt.) "A main of c.o.c.ks will be fought at the Maid's Head Inn, Norwich, on Tuesday, the 25th inst., and two following days between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth. To show 31 mains, and ten bye-c.o.c.ks, to fight for ten guineas a battle, and 50 guineas the odd battle. There will be five pits. Feeders, David Lamb for Norwich; Thomas c.o.x for Yarmouth."

16.-Died, at his house in Surrey Street, Norwich, John Manning, M.D., upwards of 30 years physician at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

17.-Died, at Snettisham Lodge, Mr. Thomas Daniell, Attorney-General of Dominica.

24.-Intelligence was received at Norwich of Vice-Admiral Duckworth's victory over the French squadron in St. Domingo Bay. Col. Patteson's Volunteers fired a _feu de joie_ in the Market Place, and the bells of St. Peter Mancroft rang until midnight.

27.-Mr. Heath caught in Panxworth Broad a pike weighing 31 lbs., and measuring 45 inches in length, and 25 inches in girth.

28.-Died, at Bodney Hall, aged 49, Madame Elizabeth de Mirepoix.

"Descended from one of the most distinguished families in France, she forsook the allurements of the Court for the retirement and austerity of monastic life. From the storms of the French Revolution the Benedictine Monastery (of which she had been a member 31 years and superior 22 years) sought shelter in England, and found an asylum in this county, where for the last 15 years the nuns have been occupied in the education of Catholic young ladies."

This month upwards of 800 was subscribed to defray the cost of the erection in Norwich of a monument to the memory of Lord Nelson. Mr.

Browne and Mr. Percy submitted designs and models to the committee, but insufficient support was given to the movement.

APRIL.

5.*-"The King has granted the dignity of Earl to the Right Hon. Horatio Baron Walpole, to be known as the Earl of Orford." Mr. Thomas Wm. c.o.ke was offered, but declined a peerage.

12.-At a meeting of farmers and others at Thetford, it was decided to hold a sheep and lamb fair in that town annually on September 1st.

19.-The Boreas frigate, 28 guns, was launched from the dockyard of Messrs. Stone and Custance, at Yarmouth. On the same day the Ariel sloop, of 18 guns, was launched from Mr. N. Palmer's yard.

27.-General Milner inspected the Norwich Rifle Corps this day (Sunday); the Norwich Volunteer Regiment on the 28th; and Col. Patteson's Battalion on the 29th.

MAY.

6.-Died, in his 82nd year, the Rev. George Thomas, vicar of East Dereham and brother of Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Rochester. He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Hyde Wollaston.

14.-The annual meeting of the Dissenters Benevolent Society, presided over by Mr. Geo. Watson, was held at the Angel Inn, Norwich.

16.-A hundred yards foot race took place on Lord's Cricket Ground between Lord E. Somerset and the Hon. Edward Harbord. "Lord Edward had the start of Mr. Harbord, and maintained the lead about 60 yards, when Mr. Harbord gained upon and crossed him. There was a foul, and Lord Edward fell.

Lord Frederick Beauclerk, who was umpire, gave his decision as follows:-That on account of the accident the race was deemed void, but Mr. Harbord is allowed the power of calling upon Lord Edward to run the race over again any time within the next six months upon giving his lordship six weeks' notice."

17.-The sword of the Spanish Admiral, Don Xavier Francisco Winthuysen, who died of his wounds at the battle off Cape St. Vincent, February 14th, 1797, presented to the city of Norwich by Lord Nelson, was placed in the mural monument at the Guildhall.

29.-General Milner, in a letter addressed to the commanding officers of Volunteers in Norwich and Norfolk, expressed "the high sense he entertained of the merit of the Volunteer corps in coming forward in such force, when the country, and this district in particular, was threatened with invasion by a powerful enemy."

30.-Died, at Calabar, East Indies, in his 32nd year, Capt. Smyth, 56th Regiment, son of Mr. James Smyth, attorney-at-law, of Norwich. He served in all the campaigns in Flanders and Holland under General Coote, in Ireland at the battle of Vinegar Hill, at Gibraltar during the mutiny, and under Sir Ralph Abercromby in Egypt.

JUNE.