Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 25

13.-At the Norwich a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Heath, William Charles Walker, aged 26, was sentenced to death for a burglary at the shop of Messrs. Dunham and Yallop, silversmiths, the Market Place.

19.-A cricket match was played on the Town Close ground between the Norwich club and "the two new ones united." Norwich club, 128; united clubs, 84-65.

Molineux, Richmond, and Belcher, "the noted pugilists," visited Norwich this month, and "gave lessons in the science of self-defence."

SEPTEMBER.

3.-Married at North Elmham, Mr. Frost to Miss Copsey. "The marriage ceremony suffered a delay of two hours in consequence of the bride not having fully made up her mind, which occasioned a large a.s.sembly of the inhabitants at the church, before whom at last the knot was tied."

5.-A comet appeared and remained visible until October 24th.

11th.-The Norfolk and Norwich Auxiliary Bible Society was inst.i.tuted at a numerous meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich. The Mayor (Mr. J.

H. Cole) presided. The Bishop of Norwich was appointed president of the Society.

16.-At a meeting held, under the presidency of Lord Suffield, at the King's Arms Inn, North Walsham, it was resolved that the county members be requested to pet.i.tion Parliament for a Bill for making a ca.n.a.l from Wayford Bridge to Lingate Common, North Walsham.

23.-Yarmouth Races commenced, and were attended by 20,000 people.

OCTOBER.

8.-A grand Musical Festival commenced in Norwich, when a miscellaneous concert was given at St. Andrew's Hall. On the 9th a selection of sacred music was performed in the church of St. Peter Mancroft. The "Messiah"

was produced on the 10th, selections were given from various composers on the 11th, and on both evenings concerts took place in St. Andrew's Hall.

The princ.i.p.al vocalists were Madame Catalani, Miss Booth, Mrs. Branchi, Mr. Braham, Mr. Goss, and Mr. Bellamy. The prices of admission were: Single tickets for the church from the orchestra to the altar, 10s. 6d.; side aisles, 7s. Single tickets for the hall, for the division west of the orchestra, 10s. 6d.; other parts, 7s. The receipts amounted to 1,800.

Died, this month, Mr. Thomas Cooke, of Pentonville, a native of Norfolk.

He bequeathed 6,600 three per cent. Consols to Doughty's Hospital, Norwich, expressly to augment the weekly allowance to the inmates; 1,750 to Cook's Hospital; 1,000 to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital; and a like sum to the Blind School. He also gave 2,100 three per cents. to Framlingham Hospital; 700 to Valinger's Hospital; and 2,300 to St.

James's Hospital at Lynn, where the testator resided some years previously. Mr. Cooke was an eccentric character, and was known as the "Pentonville Miser."

NOVEMBER.

9.*-"Died, lately, at Scarborough, Mr. Bramwell, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Norwich."

16.*-"The Master of the Rolls has appointed Mr. Charles Knight Murray, eldest son of Mr. Charles Murray, and grandson of Dr. John Murray, of Norwich, to be second secretary to his Honour."

18.-At a special a.s.sembly of the Corporation of Norwich it was resolved, in consequence of the increased prices of grain, to pet.i.tion the Prince Regent to cause the distillation of spirits from corn to be suspended until the sense of Parliament could be taken thereon. Wheat at that time was quoted at 45s. to 63s.; barley at 20s. to 26s.; oats, 13s. to 17s.

per coomb; malt, 44s. per coomb; and flour, 95s. per sack. Prices declined soon afterwards.

27.-In the Court of King's Bench, before Lord Ellenborough, a rule against Mr. Thomas Hoseason, a magistrate for the county of Norfolk, for having acted in his own cause in committing to the house of correction his servant, General Batterby, there to be kept to hard labour, and publicly whipped, was discharged on payment of costs.

30.*-"Mr. Angerstein has completely wound up his extensive mercantile concerns, and retired from business with an immense fortune, most honourably acquired. One of the last purchases which he made was a Government annuity of 3,000 on his own life. Weeting Hall, formerly Lord Montrath's, was also a recent purchase."

H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester this month visited Holkham, as the guest of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke.

DECEMBER.

10.-At a meeting of the Trafalgar Lodge of Oddfellows, held at the Three Tuns, St. Andrew's, Norwich, the floor of the upper room gave way and precipitated the members into a lower apartment. "One of the members on finding himself sinking laid hold of the bars of the fire grate, but he soon relinquished his hold and dropped on his companions." No one was injured. The meeting, at the time of the accident, had under discussion the question of the desirability of removing the lodge to other quarters.

28.-An equestrian troupe, under the management of Mr. Moritz, opened for the season at Harper's Pantheon, Norwich.

-Bullock's Museum of Natural History and productions of the fine arts was exhibited in the large room at the Angel Inn, Norwich.

Prices were very high this month. Wheat was quoted at 100s. to 110s.; rye, 46s. to 48s.; barley, 36s. to 47s.; and oats, 28s. to 32s. per quarter. The average price of wheat was 53s. 4d. per coomb, and the average price of flour 4 11s. 6d. per sack. Coals were 46s. 4d. per chaldron.

1812.

JANUARY.

2.-A silver vase, of the value of 200 guineas, was presented to Sir Edmund Bacon, premier baronet, of Raveningham, at the Swan Inn, Loddon, by the inhabitants of the Loddon and Clavering Hundred, as a token of their respect for him as a magistrate, and in recognition of his valuable services in the improvement of the roads in the district.

11.*-"The East India Company, on a representation from the manufacturers of camblets in Norwich, have raised their order from 16,000 to 22,000 pieces this season, and the manufacturers have lately advanced the wages of the journeyman weavers."

20.-A two days' c.o.c.king match commenced between the gentlemen of Yarmouth and the gentlemen of Blofield, for 5 a battle, 20 the odd, and two byes for 10 each. On the first day Blofield won four battles, and Yarmouth three battles and a bye. On the second day Yarmouth won four battles, and Blofield three battles and a bye. "The pit was filled each night, and there was much betting between the parties."

30.-A deputation of the citizens waited upon the Lighting and Watching Committee of the Norwich Corporation to complain of the inadequate provisions for the public safety. The committee gave an a.s.surance that the watchmen should be periodically inspected and an inquiry made whether the funds of the committee would enable them to give an increased allowance to watchmen whereby more able men might be appointed, and the time of watching extended to a later hour.

FEBRUARY.

4.-Died, at the age of 104, John Brown, carpenter, of Wymondham. "He retained his faculties to the last, and till within a week or two of his death frequently walked twenty miles a day."

5.-A general fast was observed in Norwich.

13.-A Lancastrian school was established on the Denes at Yarmouth.

27.-Died at Worstead, Mr. Thomas Deeker, "and on the same day in Pall Mall, London, his brother, who in 1785 twice ascended in his balloon from Norwich."

MARCH.

28.*-"The partnership between Messrs. Fisher and Scraggs having expired the theatre at Thetford was opened for the season commencing with the a.s.size week, under the direction of Mr. Fisher only, with that success which diligence and long-established integrity merit."

This month the public lighting of Thetford by voluntary subscription was inaugurated.