Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 41

3.-Sh.o.r.e's menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Ditches, Norwich.

5.-The Norwich Court of Guardians determined to proceed with the valuation of property in the city and hamlets. Messrs. Rooks, Athow, and Stannard were appointed to make the valuation at the remuneration of 850.

6.-Twelfth Day was observed in Norwich, "when the confectioners made a grand display of their frosted and ornamented cakes. Mr. Turner, of the Gentleman's Walk, had one weighing 220 pounds and measuring three yards in circ.u.mference. It was sawn to pieces next day." Mr. and Mrs.

Patteson gave a Twelfth Night ball and supper at their residence in Surrey Street, at which 140 guests were present.

8.-At a meeting, presided over by Mr. T. O. Springfield, at the Swan Inn, Norwich, resolutions were moved by Mr. Edward Taylor, and a subscription raised to testify "the estimation in which they hold the extraordinary and intrepid exertions of Mr. Hone, in defence of the liberty of the Press, and to a.s.sist to defray the expenses of his repeated prosecutions."

-Died, aged 100 years, Ashton Goodyer, formerly keeper of the workhouse at Tilney.

13.-At a county meeting held at the Shirehall, under the presidency of the High Sheriff (Mr. H. N. Burroughes), addresses of condolence with the Prince Regent and Prince Leopold on the death of the Princess Charlotte, were moved by Lord Walpole and seconded by the Hon. Col. Wodehouse. The Ven. Archdeacon Bathurst opposed the addresses on account of the omission of the name of the Princess of Wales, and moved as an amendment "That any addresses to the Prince Regent and Prince Leopold, unaccompanied by an address to the Princess of Wales, would operate as an insulting neglect to one of the first characters in the Royal Family, and as a disrespect to the memory of her who was the pride and hope of the British people."

The amendment was seconded by Mr. N. Palmer, of Yarmouth. The High Sheriff objected to put the amendment, as the name of the Princess of Wales had not been included in the requisition. The addresses were then adopted. Archdeacon Bathurst alone dissenting.

15.-Lord and Lady Castlereagh and Prince Esterhazy, the Austrian amba.s.sador, pa.s.sed through Norwich on their return to London after a visit to Lord Suffield at Blickling.

16.-Died at Old Windsor, aged 71, the Right Hon. Lord Walsingham, of Merton Hall. He was the only son of Sir William de Grey, several years Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas. In 1787 he was appointed joint Postmaster-General, and to within two years of his death had been chairman of the Committees of Privileges, &c., in the House of Lords.

19.-At a meeting of the inhabitants of Yarmouth, held at the New Hall, upwards of 6,000 was subscribed for aiding a plan to extend the navigation of the river Waveney from Bungay to Diss. The sum of 5,000 was raised in the latter town. At a meeting held at Bungay on February 5th the scheme was opposed by the landowners through whose property the projected ca.n.a.l was to pa.s.s. On February 13th the inhabitants of Thetford met to oppose the undertaking, as it was likely to be injurious to the tolls of the Lesser Ouse. It was announced on February 28th that 20,000 had been subscribed, and that the expense of carrying the scheme into execution would be 36,931. A meeting was held at Yarmouth on March 10th, at which it was decided "out of respect to Mr. Adair and the rest of the proprietors to defer application to Parliament until the ensuing Session." Ultimately the scheme was abandoned. In the course of the discussions on the project, "it was thrown out in a highly respectable quarter that the end in view might be answered and all objections obviated by the subst.i.tution of an iron railway for a ca.n.a.l." (This is the first instance in which a "railway" is mentioned in the NORFOLK CHRONICLE.)

-Mr. Sinclair, from Covent Garden Theatre, appeared at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, as Orlando ("The Cabinet"), Apollo (in the burletta of "Midas"), and Henry Bertram ("Guy Mannering").

26.-The stacks of Mr. John b.a.l.l.s, farmer, Lessingham, were destroyed by fire, his calves suspended by their necks from a beam in an outhouse, and other outrages committed. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford in the month of March, James Thompson was indicted for firing the stacks, and, after a trial lasting five hours, was acquitted.

31.-Miss Davison, of Drury Lane, commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre, during which she appeared as Lady Teazle, Priscilla Tomboy ("The Romp"), Lady Bell ("Know your own Mind"), Roxalana ("The Sultan"), and Lady Racket ("Three Weeks after Marriage").

FEBRUARY.

4.-Died, at Hethersett, aged 70, Mr. John Buckle, one of the aldermen of the Great Ward of Mancroft, Norwich. He served the office of Sheriff in 1787, and of Mayor in 1793.

16.-Mr. Emery, of Covent Garden, made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre, as Tyke ("The School of Reform"). His other characters included Robin Roughead ("Fortune's Frolic"), Zekiel Homespun ("Heir at Law"), and Sheepface ("The Village Lawyer").

21.-Died, aged 88, Mr. William Utten, of the Lower Close, Norwich, formerly chapter clerk to the Dean and Chapter, and secretary to the Lord Bishop of Norwich.

28.*-"Mr. D. Fisher, whose performance of the arduous characters of Hamlet, Macbeth, and Richard III. at Drury Lane were so excellent as to induce the managers to engage him at a liberal salary from the commencement of next season, has been engaged to perform those characters at Norwich, and will make his first appearance this evening in the part of Hamlet." Mr. Fisher was a son of the manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians.

MARCH.

2.-The Carrow Bridge toll bar, at Norwich, was let for three years at the annual rent of 224.

4.-During a severe gale from the south-east great damage was done to shipping on the Norfolk coast, and several vessels were driven ash.o.r.e.

At the church of Pulham St. Mary the Virgin the chancel window, 20 feet by 11 feet, was almost demolished, and another window on the south side was entirely blown out with the stone work. Four large sheets of lead were blown off the roof of East Bilney Church.

-It having been represented to the Norwich Court of Mayoralty that "the annual Fair on Tombland hath for several years past been continued to an unreasonable time of the night, not only to the disturbance and inconvenience of the inhabitants, but so as to prevent the decent observance of next day, being Good Friday," it was ordered "that the ensuing Fair on Maunday Thursday shall end at eleven o'clock in the evening of that day, when all persons resorting to the same are to repair to their respective houses, and all those who shall have goods, stalls, and shows are directed to cease their several trades and occupations at the said hour of eleven, and immediately to remove and carry their goods and effects from the said fairstead." The Fair was held on March 19, when "there were few exhibitions on Tombland, the show caravans, which were more numerous than usual, being judiciously arranged on the Castle Meadow."

9.-The election of Common Councilmen for the four wards of Norwich, commenced on this date. "The ascendency of the Purple and Orange or of the Blue and White party in the Corporation is supposed to have some influence at a General Election, and as that event is considered to be at no great distance, neither money nor exertions were spared to obtain a majority in the Long Ward." The expenses were estimated at some thousands of pounds, from 15 to 40 was paid for votes, and the freemen were brought in carriages from the country to vote as at a Parliamentary Election.

10.-Married at Benacre, by the Rev. Richard Gooch, Capt. G. W. Manby, barrack master, Yarmouth, to Sophia, daughter of Sir Thomas Gooch, Bart., of Benacre Hall, and sister of Mr. Sherlock Gooch, M.P., for Suffolk.

16.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford, the _crim. con._ action, Muskett _v._ Gurney, in which the damages were laid at 10,000, was tried before a special jury. Verdict for the defendant.

19.-The first Norwich Sick Poor Repository was held at Mr. Noverre's room, St. Michael-at-Plea, on Tombland Fair day. "The room was crowded by the beauty and fashion of our town and its vicinity, and the counters were completely cleared at three o'clock, when the receipts amounted to 115."

24.-Died at Hare Street, Romford, Mr. Humphrey Repton, the celebrated landscape gardener. He was buried at Aylsham.

26.-The organ at Swaffham church was opened by Mr. Beckwith, of Norwich.

Selections of sacred music were rendered at the church, and in the evening a miscellaneous concert was given in the a.s.sembly-room. The princ.i.p.al vocalists were Mrs. Card, Miss Williams, Mr. C. Fisher (tenor), and the choristers from Norwich Cathedral.

31.-Married, at Redenhall Church, by the Ven. Archdeacon Oldershaw, Mr.

Gurney Barclay, of Tavistock Square, London, to Miss Freshfield, of Harleston. "On the bride's return the horses were taken from her carriage, and, amid the cheering of the delighted people, she was drawn, attended by a band of music, through the town."

APRIL.

5.-The London mail by way of Bury and Newmarket was discontinued, and two light four-inside coaches, called the Mercury, subst.i.tuted, starting from the Angel Inn, Norwich, at 4.45 p.m., and from the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, London, at six p.m., Sundays excepted. The proprietors of the Expedition post coach subst.i.tuted two light post coaches which ran from the Swan Inn, Norwich, every afternoon at four o'clock, and from the White Horse, Fetter Lane, London, at 4.30. The mail by Bury and Newmarket had been established 33 years, and was discontinued from lack of public support. The Norwich and London mail by Ipswich and Colchester continued to run as before.

8.-The Eau Brink Drainage Bill was read a third time in the House of Commons, and the Act was subsequently pa.s.sed for increasing the fund for carrying into execution the several previous Acts for improving the drainage of the fens, and the navigation of the several Norfolk rivers communicating with the river Ouse.

11.-Six prisoners escaped from the Norwich City Gaol by breaking through an 18-inch brick wall, whence they entered the snuff manufactory of Messrs. Waite and Cozens, and with their irons on made their way to the Market Place. With one exception they were speedily recaptured.

-*"According to the returns of the Tax Office to March 25, 1817, the Norfolk Land-tax amounted to 63,471 10s. 7d.; redeemed, 18,526 16s.

2d."

14.-The Norwich Paving Commissioners, in consequence of complaints regarding the imperfect lighting and watching of the streets, appointed a committee of fourteen of their members, and co-opted other persons, to superintend the placing of the watchmen. The committee were requested to "occasionally perambulate the city, and to observe the state of the lamps and the conduct of the watchmen."

18.*-(Advt.) "To be fought at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, on Monday, April 20th, 1818, and two following days, three double days play of c.o.c.ks for 10 guineas a battle, and 200 guineas the odd, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridge. Feeders: Lamb for Norwich, Thompson for Cambridge."

-*(Advt.) "The London and Norwich mail coach by Colchester and Ipswich.

The Postmaster-General having thought proper to discontinue the mail coach by Newmarket, which had been established 33 years, from the public not having latterly given it that support which its usefulness demanded, the contractors for the remaining mail by Ipswich and Colchester, which will in future be the conveyance of the Norwich letters, hope that so useful a carriage in this commercial city and county will have such success as to promote its future encouragement and continuance."

23.-St. George's Day was observed in Norwich as the festival of the tutelar saint of England and as the appointed date for the celebration of the birthday of the Prince Regent. St. Peter's bells were rung, and at night a ball was given at Chapel Field House.

24.-A meeting, presided over by Mr. J. J. Gurney, was held at the Lancasterian School, Norwich, to encourage the establishment of Sunday schools.

26.-Died at Norwich, aged 47, the Rev. Augustus Beevor, M.A. "He was educated at Bennet College, Cambridge, where he early distinguished himself, and as a reward of his literary merits, received many college prizes. He was rector of Berghapton, Norfolk, and of Otley, Suffolk."

27.-After the interval of 15 years the boundaries of the county of the city of Norwich were perambulated by the Mayor (Mr. Crisp Brown), attended by the Sheriffs, several of the aldermen, city officers, and others on horseback, and by a great number of persons on foot. Much beer was drunk _en route_, and at Earlham the chief personages were entertained by Mr. J. J. Gurney, and 400 men and boys received each a pint of beer and a piece of cake. A man swam the river at Earlham, another crossed it at h.e.l.lesdon. "When proceeding in the direction of Sprowston they were met on the road, leading from Norwich to Crostwick, by Mr. James Cozens, who formally declared his intention to protest against the establishment of the line of boundary which they were taking, and pointed out a boundary mark nearer Norwich, which on inspection proved to be that of St. Clement's parish."

MAY.

1.-A two days' poll commenced for the election of Mayor at Norwich. The poll was declared on the 2nd as follows:-Ald. Marsh, 821; Ald. Leman, 820; Ald. Thurtell, 474; Ald. Back, 412. Mr. Leman was on the 3rd elected, by the Court of Aldermen, Mayor for the second time.

3.-At a meeting of the Norwich Corporation it was agreed to present congratulatory addresses to the Prince Regent and to the Princess Elizabeth on her marriage with the Hereditary Prince of Hesse Homburgh.