Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 74

MAY.

1.-Mr. John Angell was elected Mayor of Norwich.

3.-The Corporation of Norwich pet.i.tioned the House of Commons to introduce legislation for remitting the punishment of death "in all cases except murder, arson, burglary, highway robbery, and offences attended with violence."

13.-The foundation-stone of the new Market House at Lynn was laid by the Mayor (Mr. William Bagge).

15.-William King was publicly whipped in Norwich Market Place for stealing a pewter pot.

-Died at his house, in Chapel Field, Norwich, aged 48, Mr. Joseph Gibson, jun., who served the office of Sheriff in 1821.

17.-A portion of the roof over the pit of the old Theatre Royal, Norwich, fell in with a tremendous crash. The workmen who had been employed there during the day had just left the building.

22.-The Rev. William Yonge, Vicar of Swaffham and Chancellor of the Diocese of Norwich, was presented by his parishioners with a piece of plate, of the value of 100, in recognition of his services as their resident minister during the period of 50 years.

JUNE.

2.-Mr. Burton, comedian at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, on the occasion of his benefit, "delivered Liston's celebrated address, riding on the back of a real donkey."

-Died, Mr. Jeremiah Lorkin, aged 77, "well known some years since to the then antiquaries of Norwich, an excellent cla.s.sical scholar, and conversant with the science of numismatics."

12.-A writ of mandamus was issued by the Court of King's Bench, directing the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich, in compliance with the Act of Parliament, to elect twenty persons to be Guardians of the Poor. The Mayor (Mr. T. O. Springfield) had absented himself from the quarterly a.s.sembly of the Corporation on May 3rd. The transaction of public business was, in consequence, prevented, and at a special a.s.sembly a strong vote of censure was pa.s.sed upon his worship for his conduct.

-A grey eagle was shot in Holkham Park. It weighed 9 lbs., measured 2 inches round the smallest part of the leg, 3 ft from the point of the beak to the tip of the tail, and 7 ft. 2 in. from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other.

22.-Guild Day was observed in Norwich. It was stated that at the Cathedral the civic procession "pa.s.sed along the rush-strewed pavement into the choir." In consequence of the serious illness of the King, it was doubtful whether the Guild feast would be held. Mr. Angell, the Mayor-elect, issued 600 invitations, and until the guests actually a.s.sembled there was every probability of the abandonment of the feast.

27.-Intelligence was received in Norwich of the death of George IV. The news came six hours in advance of the mails, by an express despatched from the "Sun" newspaper office in London to the proprietors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE. The great bell of St. Peter Mancroft Church was tolled. On the 29th the High Sheriff (the Hon. George Milles) proceeded on horseback from the Norfolk Hotel, accompanied by a marshal and javelin-men, and other officials, to the Shirehall, where the accession of King William IV. to the Crown of these realms was proclaimed, and three cheers given. The King was proclaimed by the city authorities on the 30th, from the leads of the Guildhall. The procession round the city was headed by the band and kettledrums of the 1st Royal Dragoons, and five troops of the regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Somerset. "The Colonel politely declined the Mayor's invitation to himself and his officers to take refreshments at the Guildhall after the ceremony, and the offer on the part of the Corporation to present the non-commissioned officers and men of the Royals with 10 guineas with which to drink his Majesty's health was also declined, on the ground that the troops, in attending the civil authorities, had only performed a duty." There were similar observances at Yarmouth and Lynn.

JULY.

5.-Mr. William Smith, M.P. for Norwich, in an address on this date, intimated to the electors that, in consequence of advancing years, he would not offer himself for re-election. He had represented the city twenty-eight years.

-A grand main of c.o.c.ks (three double-days' play) commenced at the Maid's Head Inn, Norwich, between the gentlemen of Norfolk (Stafford, feeder) and the gentlemen of Suffolk (Nash, feeder), for 10 a battle and 100 the odd. Norfolk won by two battles a head on the main.

6.-A cricket match was played at Lord's, between the Marylebone and the Norfolk clubs. The latter won by 24 runs. Marylebone, 43-78; Norfolk, 87-58. The return match was played on the Dereham ground, on August 19th and 20th, when Norfolk won by eight wickets. Marylebone, 62-44; Norfolk, 85-22.

15.-The funeral of the late King took place on this date. The day was observed in Norwich "with the complete features of the Sabbath." The Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, services were held in other places of worship, and the great bell of St. Peter Mancroft tolled from eight o'clock till midnight.

24.-At the General Election which took place consequent upon the death of the King, Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney, acceding to the urgent appeals of the "Blue and White" party in Norwich, consented to contest the city, in conjunction with Mr. Robert Grant. On this date he and his colleague made their public entry. Col. Peel, who sought re-election, and Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Ogle, Bart., the other "Orange and Purple"

candidate, arrived on the 26th. The nomination took place on the 29th, and the polling commenced immediately afterwards. Throughout the election great excitement prevailed, and there was much rioting. The poll was declared on the 30th, as follows: Gurney, 2,363; Grant, 2,279; Peel, 1,912; Ogle, 1,762.

30.-The election at Yarmouth commenced, and, after a sharp contest, the poll was declared, on the 31st, as follows: The Hon. George Anson, 944; Rumbold, 944; Preston, 751; Campbell, 754.

31.-Lynn election took place, and resulted in the return of Lord George Bentinck and Col. Walpole, with 78 and 73 votes respectively. The unsuccessful candidate, Sir W. B. ffolkes, polled 8 votes.

AUGUST.

3.-Mr. T. W. c.o.ke and Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, the outgoing members, offered themselves for re-election by the county. Mr. c.o.ke issued an address on this date, asking the electors to support Sir William ffolkes, who stood as a third candidate. Mr. Wodehouse withdrew his candidature rather than involve himself and his supporters in a protracted contest, and the two first-named gentlemen were returned unopposed on the 6th.

7.-An inquest upon the body of a man accidentally killed was held _in the porch_ of Earlham church by Mr. William Bell, Coroner.

9.-Mr. Samuel Bignold was elected one of the Sheriffs of Norwich.

-At an inquest held at Norwich on the body of John Morse, aged 38, who, during the city election was violently struck by a stone, and received such injuries that he died on August 6th, a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown, was returned, and the Court of Mayoralty offered a reward of 50 for a conviction.

-Mr. Kean appeared at Norwich Theatre in the character of Richard III., previous to leaving England for America, and to his final retirement from the stage. His other impersonations included Shylock, Oth.e.l.lo, Sir Edward Mortimer, Sir Giles Overreach, and King Lear.

20.-Died at sea, on board the Lyra Government packet, in his 63rd year, Mr. Crisp Brown, Alderman of Norwich, who served as Sheriff in 1814, and Mayor in 1817. He had taken a voyage across the Atlantic for the benefit of his health, "but unhappily sank under the weight of affliction which oppressed his mind."

21.-The King's birthday was celebrated in Norwich.

25.-Died at his house on Tombland, Norwich, Mr. Henry Carter, aged 40, one of the surgeons of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

31.-The election of freemen's Sheriff at Norwich resulted in the return of Mr. Isaac Wiseman, with 1,124 votes, against 794 polled by Mr. Charles Middleton.

SEPTEMBER.

13.-The foundation-stone of a new episcopal chapel at Yarmouth, erected by voluntary subscriptions, from designs by Mr. Scoles, was laid by Mr.

Barth, acting for the Bishop of Norwich.

21.-The Norwich Musical Festival opened with a grand concert, given at St. Andrew's Hall. On the morning of the 22nd, sacred selections were given, and in the evening Mr. Mori conducted a concert. The "Messiah"

was performed on the morning of the 23rd, and a concert took place in the evening. On Friday, 24th, selections of sacred music were given in the morning, and a fancy dress ball was held in the evening. The princ.i.p.al performers at the Festival were Madame Malibran, Madame Stockhausen, Master Phillips, Mrs. William Knyvett, Mr. Braham, Mr. Vaughn, Mr.

Terrail, Mr. E. Taylor, and Signor De Begnes. Sir George Smart was conductor.

24.-A dinner was held at the Corn Exchange, Norwich, to celebrate the return of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., and Sir William, ffolkes, M.P.

25.-Mr. Braham appeared at Norwich Theatre as Henry Bartram ("Guy Mannering").

OCTOBER.

2.-Malibran appeared at Norwich Theatre, in the character of Susanna ("The Marriage of Figaro").

4.-A twin packet was launched from the shipyard of Mr. John Lubbock, at Wells-next-the-Sea. "She may justly be called a twin steamer, having two stems and two stern posts, with a tunnel pa.s.sing through the middle ingeniously constructed so as to make her very stiff and of an easy draught of water. The vessel was built for the Aire and Calder Navigation Company."

9.-A specimen of the _Ossifragus_, or small eagle, was shot at Barton Turf.