—Died, suddenly, of apoplexy, while hunting with Sir James Flowers’ hounds at Tibenham, Mr. William Chambers, of Norwich, who served the office of Sheriff from Michaelmas, 1834, to January 1st of this year, and was the last Sheriff elected under the old system. Mr. Chambers was in his 45th year.
24.—Died at his house in Bethel Street, Norwich, aged 62, Mr. Robert Hawkes, who was elected Alderman of the Mancroft Ward in 1818, served the office of Sheriff in 1819, and that of Mayor in 1822. In consequence of Mr. Hawkes’ death, the Judges of Assize, whose official lodgings were at his house, were invited by the Very Rev. Dr. Pellew to stay at the Deanery. At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, on April 8th, the thanks of the county were accorded to Dr. Pellew.
29.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, the case of John Pilgrim was further respited, in consequence of the illness of one of the prosecutors. (There is no further record of this case.)
1.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, Peter Taylor was found guilty, as an accessary before the fact, of the murder of Mary Taylor, his wife, at Burnham Westgate, on March 12th, 1835. The prosecution arose out of the trial of the women Frarey and Billing, who were executed as principals in the murder. Taylor, who to the last protested his innocence, was hanged on the Castle Hill, Norwich, on April 23rd.
—At the same Assizes, before Mr. Justice Gaselee, John Sucker (23), Thomas Bassett (40), Joseph Bruce (21), Thomas Dawes (25), and James Staines (37) were indicted, Sucker and Bassett for the murder of William Case, on November 30th, 1835, and the other prisoners for aiding and assisting in the commission of the crime while poaching on the lands of Mr. W. L. Jones, at Methwold. They were found guilty and sentenced to death. The jury subsequently delivered to his lordship at the Deanery the following declaration: “Our opinion is that the prisoners were guilty of manslaughter, not murder, and it was our intention so to find had we not been called upon to give our opinion as to the facts.” The execution was deferred for the opinion of the Judges assembled in the Court of Exchequer. On April 23rd Lord Denman stated that the Judges, after hearing counsel on both sides, were of opinion it would not be proper to execute the prisoners for the crime of murder.
2.—A vessel of 500 tons burden, intended for the trade between England and the Mauritius, was launched from the ship-yard of Mr. Richardson, Friars’ Fleet, Lynn.
4.—On the occasion of the presentation of a piece of plate to the Rev. A. Goode, of Terrington St. Clement, 800 villagers accompanied the deputation, with flags and banners, and “86 young females attending the Sunday School bore branches of laurel.” The plate was borne upon a tray by “two respectable parishioners,” supported by “some emblematical characters, one of whom personated the renowned Tom Hickathrift, the Marshland giant of the olden time, and the bold defender of the ancient rights of Marshland Smeeth. The representative of Hickathrift delivered an appropriate speech.”
8.—At the Norfolk county magistrates’ meeting, Mr. J. Brown was elected Surveyor of the county, and Mr. James Watson surveyor of bridges.
—The Lord Lieutenant of the county, accompanied by Mr. Samuel Bignold, visited the factory of the Norwich Yarn Company. “There are now 300 workmen, upwards of 60 reelers, and about 200 children constantly at work in the establishment, and the labour bill exceeds £200 a week.”
—Francis Widdows, “who was upwards of 50 years leader of the company of singers in St. Mary’s chapel,” died at Doughty’s Hospital, Norwich, in his 80th year.
13.—One hundred and ninety-five emigrants from villages in the neighbourhood embarked at Friars’ Fleet, Lynn, on board the ship Anne, bound for Quebec. Mr. Daniel Gurney distributed among them Bibles, Prayer-books, &c. Large numbers of emigrants left the county during the spring. By May 17th 1,625 had sailed from Yarmouth. From the same port, on May 25th, sailed the Morning Star, with 212 emigrants, chiefly labourers, from Suffolk, and the Brunswick, with 447 agriculturists from East Norfolk. By July 2nd the total number embarked at Yarmouth for Quebec and Port St. Francis on the St. Lawrence was 3,200.
22.—Died, aged 72, at St. John Timberhill, Norwich, Mr. J. P. Cocksedge, who served the office of Sheriff in 1827.
27.—Died, aged 37, “the eccentric and whimsical John Gudgeon, the celebrated shuttle-maker, of Norwich.”
28.—In consequence of the Mayor and Sheriff of Norwich having declined to extend the customary patronage to the Theatre, the performance on this night was under “the immediate patronage of the Conservatives of Norwich.” The pieces produced were “The Rivals” and “The Mayor of Garrat.”
—The three troops of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons stationed at Norwich Cavalry Barracks, marched on their route to Canterbury and Brighton, and were replaced by three troops of the 17th Lancers from Manchester.
30.*—“The King has been pleased to confer the honour of knighthood on a native of Norwich, Dr. W. J. Hooker, Professor of Botany at Glasgow, and a Companion of the Third Class of the Royal Guelphio Hanoverian Order.”
1.—The celebration of May Day, which, from time immemorial, has been observed at Lynn by children parading the streets with garlands of flowers and the sounding of horns, was this year prohibited by the authorities of the borough.
25.—Miss Read, a native of the city, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Belvedera (“Venice Preserved”). “Her performance was marked by talent and feeling very creditable in so young an actress.”
26.—A specimen of the common plant valerian rubra was exhibited at the show of the Norfolk and Norwich Horticultural Society with the following inscription upon the label attached: “This plant was raised from seed found in a cement coffin discovered beneath the ruins of Wymondham Priory church. The period of interment is proved antecedent to 1300.”
31.—Married at Kensington, by the Rev. T. B. Murray, the Rev. George William Murray, of Merton College, Oxford, assistant minister of St. Peter’s, Pimlico, fifth son of Charles Murray, formerly of Norwich, to Marianne, second daughter of Major-General Sir William Douglas, K.C.B., of Timperdean, Roxburghshire.
4.*—“Died lately, aged 68, William Brett, an ingenious and eccentric individual, generally known as ‘Duke Brett,’ of Swaffham, by trade a shoemaker, but a perfect factotum in all manner of handicraft, and a celebrated opium-eater, having for many years consumed large quantities of this drug daily.”
8.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Capt. Money moved a resolution in favour of the admission of the public to the discussions of that body, “because it would make the members more measured in their language, more careful, and more honest.” Mr. Burt moved a negative resolution, and stated that “if they could not restrain their language in the company of gentlemen of education and respectability, they would not do so in the presence of a school of persons casually admitted.” Capt Money’s motion was negatived.
28.—A meeting of the directors and proprietors of the Norwich Yarn Company was held at the Guildhall, at which it was stated that the factory was incapable of supplying even one-third of the quantity of yarn required for manufacturing purposes in the city and neighbourhood. It was decided that the capital be increased by the creation of 700 additional shares of £100 each. (See December 1st, 1836.)
4.—A novel feat of pedestrianism was performed on the Norwich Cricket Ground, in the presence of a great number of spectators. “Sixty yards of cord were wound round a pole one foot in circumference. The pedestrian took the end of the cord and ran round the pole until the whole was off, which was to be completed in the space of four hours, the distance being computed to be 20 miles. The pedestrian, John Baldwin, a native of Norwich, performed the arduous task in less than three and a half hours.”
7.—The Yarmouth Town Council ordered the removal of the Market Cross, upon the petition of certain inhabitants of the borough.
9.*—“Died, lately, Mr. William Read, farmer, of Dumpling Green, East Dereham. His remains were conveyed to the grave by his express desire in one of his waggons, drawn by four of his best horses, of which he prided himself in having the first in the county, and attended by an immense concourse of persons, drawn together by the novelty of the scene.”
—Mr. J. Gotobed, one of the proprietors of the Lynn coach, was fined £50 “for having driven away the coach after it had been seized by his Majesty’s officers of Excise for conveying contraband spirits.”
16.*—“Many hundred tons of oysters have been caught off Cley, where there are very extensive beds, during the last season, and sold to the Kent dealers at less than sixpence a bushel.”
19.—The Sandringham Hall Estate was sold by Mr. W. W. Simpson, at the Auction Mart, London, after a spirited competition, for £76,000. It was the property of Mr. Henry Hoste Henly.
29.—Died at Longford, Derbyshire, Mr. Edward Coke, brother of Mr. T. W. Coke, of Holkham. Mr. Coke for several Sessions represented Derby in Parliament, and was returned for Norfolk in 1807.
1.—Norwich Theatre was re-opened after thorough renovation. Gas light was used for the first time. Mrs. Yates appeared as Rachael (“The Jewess”), and in the petite comedy, “An Actress of All Work,” in which she sustained six distinct characters. On the 6th Mr. Yates appeared in conjunction with his wife. Norwich Theatre was described as “one of the handsomest, most comfortable, and best lighted of the minor theatres in this kingdom.”
4.—A two-days’ cricket match, between Yorkshire and Norfolk, commenced on the Norwich Ground. Yorkshire won, by 25 runs.
5.—Died, at his residence on the Castle Ditches, Norwich, in his 89th year, Mr. Robert Ward, who served the office of Sheriff in 1800, and was for upwards of 45 years a member of the Court of Guardians.
13.—A petition by Mr. Samuel Bignold and Mr. William Rackham on the one part, and Mr. T. O. Springfield on the other part, having been presented to the Lord Chancellor relative to the composition of the trustees of the Norwich charities, the matter was argued on this date before the Master in Chancery, who ruled that in composing the list of trustees he would not admit more than four Dissenters out of the 21; further, that in the execution of their official duties, the trustees should be divided into two classes, and that none but those who were members of the Church of England should have a voice in the presentation to any Church living. On December 23rd the Master presented a draft report, stating the composition of the “Church list” and of the “general list.” The former contained eleven selected from the twenty-one names submitted by Messrs. Springfield, Finch, and Willett, and ten from the twenty-one names submitted by Messrs. Bignold and Rackham. The “general list” contained twelve names submitted by the former and eight by the latter. (See March 18th, 1837.)
20.—The Norwich Musical Festival, “for the benefit of the Norfolk and Norwich and West Norfolk Hospitals, the School for the Indigent Blind, the Eye Infirmary, and the Dispensary,” commenced. The principals were Madame Caradori Allan, Miss Bruce, Miss Rainforth, Mrs. A. Shaw, Miss Tipping, Signora Assandri, Signer Ivanoff, Mr. Hobbs, Mr. Hawking, Mr. H. Phillips, Mr. E. Taylor, and Signor Lablach. Messrs. Cramer and Blagrove were leaders of the band, and Sir George Smart conductor. Miscellaneous concerts were given on the evenings of the 20th, 21st, and 22nd; on the morning of the 21st a selection of sacred music and “The Redemption”; on the 22nd “The Creation” and “The Seventh Day”; and on the 23rd “The Christian’s Prayer” and “Israel in Egypt.” The Festival concluded on the night of the 23rd with a fancy dress ball, at which “masks and dominoes” were prohibited.
—The Wendling Estate, near East Dereham, was sold at Garraway’s, by Mr. Spelman, of Norwich, for £14,000.
29.—A new fire escape, invented by the Rev. Mr. Arthy, of Caistor near Norwich, was exhibited in front of the Union Office, Surrey Street. “It consists of a jointed ladder, the first length 10 ft. and seven others 6 ft. 7 in. long, with a pulley inserted in the head of the first length, over which a chain passes, to one end of which a large basket is attached, and two rollers are affixed to the under side of the top length, to enable the ladder to pass freely over the brickwork, and two ropes are attached to the outer sides of the top, to guide the ladder in raising it, to bring it forward where projections occur, and to keep it from slipping either way. After the ladder is raised to the proper height, the ropes pass under the basket to keep it steady in going up or down. The machine is constructed on a small platform, mounted on wheels, and can be conveyed with great rapidity to any given point.”
24.—Ole B. Bull, the Norwegian violinist, appeared at a morning concert held at the Assembly Rooms, Norwich. The vocalists were Mdlle. De Angiole, Signor Curioni, and Mr. Bochisa.
1.—Municipal elections were held for the first time on this date, under the Municipal Reform Act. At Norwich the contests in the eight wards resulted in the return of eight Conservatives and eight Whig-Radicals.
—Died at King’s Lynn, Mr. Joseph Waters, for many years a prominent merchant in that town. “This melancholy event took place owing to a violent fright which he received in the Theatre on that day.”
4.—In the Court of King’s Bench commenced a long course of litigation in which the Corporation of Norwich was concerned. Sir W. Follett applied for a rule to shew cause why a quo warranto should not be filed calling upon Mr. Thomas Brightwell to show by what authority he claimed to exercise the office of Alderman. It was explained that after the passing of the Municipal Reform Act a certain number of Aldermen were elected for the city. Instead of each being nominated separately, they were all proposed and elected in a batch, which, it was contended, was clearly illegal. The court granted the application. A similar rule was applied for against the Mayor, Mr. Springfield, for, it was argued, if the Aldermen had not themselves been properly elected, they could not elect a Mayor. A rule was also granted in this case. On November 24th the rule was made absolute in the case of Mr. Brightwell, and enlarged in the case of Mr. Springfield. In the Bail Court on the same date Mr. Kelly obtained rules nisi calling upon fourteen persons to show by what authority they took upon themselves to act as Aldermen. On December 19th the Attorney-General applied in the Rolls Court for an injunction to restrain the Mayor and Corporation from defraying out of the municipal funds the expenses incurred in defending the quo warrantos in the Court of King’s Bench, calling upon Messrs. Springfield and Brightwell to show cause by what authority they held the offices, the former of Mayor and the latter of Alderman, as well as the expenses attending the presentation of a petition to the Lord Chancellor to appoint new trustees of the funds of the public charities, the management of which was vested in the Corporation. The bill charged the defendants with applying the Corporation funds wrongfully, in a manner inconsistent with the duties of a Mayor and Corporation, and in direct violation of the provisions of the Municipal Corporation Act, by applying them for the aforesaid purposes, in consequence of certain resolutions to which the corporate body had come. The effect of these resolutions was that the City Treasurer should from time to time pay out of the city funds such sums of money as the committee of the Corporation should deem necessary towards defraying the expenses of the quo warrantos and petition above-named. The defendants put in two demurrers to the bill, and Lord Langdale said he would consider the case before pronouncing judgment. (See January 13th, 1837.)
5.*—“We wish to direct the attention of landowners and farmers in Norfolk to the extraordinary success which has attended the attempt of Mr. R. Crawshay, of Honingham Hall, to cultivate hops in Norfolk. A sample of them may now be seen at Norgate and Co.’s, which competent judges have declared to surpass the growth of any other county in the kingdom. Our agriculturists will be deeply indebted to this gentleman for proving to them that a valuable plant indigenous to the soil may be cultivated with profitable success in Norfolk.”
9.—Mr. Thomas Brightwell was elected Mayor, and Mr. John Bateman appointed Sheriff, of Norwich.
23.—A musical festival took place at Fakenham parish church. “The Messiah” was rendered in the morning, and “Judas Maccabeus” in the evening. The soloists were supplied by the choir of Norwich Cathedral. “Admission, middle aisle, 3s.; other parts, 2s.”
26.*—“The allotment system has been tried on a tolerably large scale in the parish of Attleborough, by Sir John Smyth, Bart., of Woodmarston Hall, Surrey, lord of the manor of Attleborough. The allotments are let at moderate rents, not exceeding the rent of similar lands in farm, with the addition of the tithes and other charges which are paid by the landlord.”
28.—Sir James Flower’s hounds met at Stow, where the stag was turned off and was taken at Garboldisham Lings, after a run of five hours. The distance from point to point was about eleven miles, but the stag ran at least 40 miles, and the only horsemen up at the finish were the huntsman and first whip.
29.—A severe gale occurred. A large wooden building erected at the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, for circus performances, was blown down by the tremendous violence of the wind. “The great oak at Necton, for which the late Mr. William Mason was offered by a shipwright at Lynn, in 1812, 120 guineas, had two arms blown off it, each the size of ordinary timber trees.” Barns and wheat stacks were blown down at Necton, Ashill, West Bradenham, and Beeston. At Carbrooke a windmill, the property of Mr. Robert Homes, was wrecked, and his son killed.
—The Freebridge Lynn Hundred Association for the encouragement of agricultural labourers and servants was formed at a meeting held at the Duke’s Head Inn, Lynn. Sir W. B. ffolkes was elected president; the Rev. C. D. Brereton, of Little Massingham, secretary; and Mr. B. Aldham, treasurer.
1.—The directors of the Norwich Yarn Company having obtained the minimum sum necessary for commencing their new works on the ground purchased of Mr. Youngman, the first stone of the new factory was laid on this day. The event was celebrated by a procession in honour of Bishop Blaize, to illustrate the pagan story of Jason’s argonautic expedition to Colchis in search of the Golden Fleece. The last celebration of the kind took place in 1783. The character of Bishop Blaize was impersonated “most appropriately, both as to age and gravity, by Richard Dickerson, comber, who had taken part in the former procession.” Starting from the premises of the company, the procession paraded the principal streets of the city, and halted opposite Mr. Bignold’s house in Surrey Street, where an “oratorical address” was delivered by the senior orator, Edward Warman. At noon the procession arrived at St. Edmund’s, where Mr. Bignold laid the foundation stone, and, in addressing the company, stated that the building about to be erected would be 163 ft. in length, by 42 feet in width, and four storeys high. As the works already in operation afforded employment to 800 people, this mill, which would be one-third larger, would yield employment to 1,200. Upwards of £15,000 had been raised for defraying the cost of the works. The procession afterwards moved by a circuitous route to St. Andrew’s Hall, where the directors entertained 900 persons who had taken part in the proceedings. John Sell Cotman, who had sketched the pageant, announced the issue and sale of folio prints illustrating the event. He stated: “In pure regard of the children of the industrious poor of my native city, I give my labour, with the entire profits of the work.”
10.—The skeleton of a gigantic whale, taken at Plymouth in October, 1831, was exhibited on the Castle Hill, Norwich. It measured 85 feet in length, and was advertised as “The Prince of Whales at Home.”
25.—Christmas Day was ushered in with snowstorms and hailstorms, thunder, and lightning. On the 26th the roads were rendered almost impassable by the drifting snow, which, in some localities, was from ten to twelve feet deep. Soon all vehicular traffic was stopped. The Ipswich mail coach, which should have arrived at Norwich on Christmas Day, did not reach the city until eleven o’clock on the night of the 29th. It was detained at Thwaite Duke’s Head, whence the letter bags were despatched in the charge of mounted messengers. One of the passengers, Capt. Petre, undertook to walk to Norwich, a distance of twenty-eight miles; he arrived in the city on the 28th, and thence proceeded on his journey to Westwick House. The Newmarket mail could get no further than Bury St. Edmund’s, and all other public vehicles were delayed. On the Dereham, Fakenham, and other turnpikes gangs of labourers were employed to remove the snowdrifts. There were many shipping casualties on the Norfolk coast. Such severe weather had not been experienced since 1799. The thaw commenced in the middle of January, 1837, and high floods occurred in the neighbourhood of Norwich and in other localities.
26.—Ryan’s Royal Circus was opened for the season in a large wooden building erected at the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, by Mr. Bunn.
3.—Hannah Manfield (or Saddler), aged 50, a woman of eccentric habits, residing on Denver Common, was found dead in her cottage, with her throat cut. A considerable quantity of plate had been taken from a cupboard, and a sum of money, supposed to be nearly £20, was also stolen. On the 14th Mr. Wright, a police-officer of Lynn, apprehended at Doncaster John Smith, aged 25, John Varnhem, 23, and George Timms, 22, who were committed for trial on the capital charge. (See April 6th, 1837.)
5.—In consequence of a resolution passed at a special meeting of the Town Council, the Mayor of Norwich convened a meeting at the Guildhall on this date, “to take into consideration the sufferings of the poor in this inclement season, and to adopt measures for relieving the same.” A public subscription was opened. At a general meeting of the subscribers, on March 21st, Mr. W. G. Edwards, one of the secretaries, reported that the amount subscribed was £2,008 7s. 3d., out of which a grant of £300 was made to the Sick Poor Society; 20,093 coal tickets, and 37,831 bread tickets were distributed, and £423 3s. 5d. was placed in the treasurer’s hands to meet future emergencies.
7.—Wombwell’s Menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Meadow, Norwich. The proprietor presented to the Museum fine specimens of a lioness, boa constrictor, racoon, and kangaroo.
13.—In the Rolls Court, Lord Langdale gave judgment in the action the Attorney-General v. the Corporation of Norwich. He said that, as far as regarded the quo warrantos, if a Corporation was not allowed to defend an election duly made, the interests of corporations would be hazarded in every case where a Mayor or other officer did not chose to be at the expense of defending his own election against a rule nisi. It was not a reasonable construction of the new statute that corporations had no interests whatever in the charitable trusts of boroughs. It was true that the administration of charitable estates was distinct from the administration of borough funds, and that neither a corporation as a body nor any member thereof in his corporate capacity ought to be trustees of such estates; still, a corporation, in attending to the public benefits of the inhabitants of a borough, had a due interest in the appointment of those trustees. Under all the circumstances of the case, therefore, he was of opinion that the demurrers must be allowed. At Norwich Assizes on April 6th, before Mr. Justice Parke, the case Rex v. Brightwell was tried by a special jury. This was an information in the nature of a quo warranto, calling upon the defendant to show by what authority he exercised the office of Alderman. Mr. Andrews, for the defendant, contended that if he was not a good Alderman he was not a good Mayor; and if he had not been legally elected Alderman, then all the other Aldermen who had been elected in the same way were elected equally contrary to the law, and all the proceedings which had taken place respecting the police and borough rates would be bad, and the Corporation of the city entirely dissolved, and nothing could cure the defect but a fresh Act of Parliament. Mr. Kelly, for the Crown, urged that the law of England had fixed from time immemorial that corporate officers should not be elected in one batch, but that they must be proposed and voted for separately, and that all elections conducted in any other way were null and void. The jury returned a verdict for the Crown. In the Court of King’s Bench, on April 19th, application was made to move a rule to show cause why the verdict for the Crown could not be set aside, on the ground that the election was perfectly fair, and there was no pretence for saying that the wishes and intentions of the electors had not been carried into effect. A rule was granted. In the Court of Chancery, on May 6th, the case assumed another phase. An information was filed against the Corporation by Mr. Samuel Bignold, alleging that they intended to divert their funds from corporate purposes by paying the expenses incurred by the Town Clerk and other persons who had proceeded to London to support a petition presented to the Lord Chancellor, in order to secure the return of certain persons as trustees of the charities hitherto vested in the old Corporation; and by paying the expenses arising out of the proceedings by quo warranto in the cases of Mr. Springfield and Mr. Brightwell. The further hearing was adjourned till next term. On May 22nd it was reported to the Court of King’s Bench that at a meeting of the Town Council on the 19th, an order was passed “that £1,000 be paid to the Town Clerk on account of disbursements by him relative to law proceedings,” such law proceedings being the matter in which the injunction had been applied for. The Lord Chancellor, on the 24th, granted an order to restrain the payment of the amount. The appeal from the decision of the Master of the Rolls, allowing a demurrer on the information filed by Mr. Bignold, came before the Court of Chancery on May 27th. The Lord Chancellor, after adjournment, gave judgment on the demurrer against the injunction, and confirmed the decision of the Master of the Rolls, with costs. At a meeting of the Town Council on June 2nd, Mr. Bignold expressed his intention to carry the case to the House of Lords.
13.—Died at St. Gregory’s, Norwich, aged 81, Mr. William Lorkin. “He was for 65 years a member of the Wesleyan Methodist body, having joined them soon after Mr. Wesley first visited Norwich.” In 1825 he published a work entitled “A concise history of the establishment of Wesleyan Methodism in Norwich.”
28.—The influenza epidemic at this date prevailed in city and county, and cases occurred in almost every family.
—An omnibus “upon the London plan” commenced running between Norwich and North Walsham.
—The Magnet coach, from the Swan and Rampant Horse Inns, was advertised to do the journey from Norwich to London, through Thetford and Newmarket, every night, in twelve hours. “The proprietors, in returning thanks for the very liberal patronage bestowed on them, beg most respectfully to inform their friends and the public that they have, at an additional expense, fixed a light inside this coach, which, having given such universal satisfaction, will be continued.”
31.—At a meeting of the Conservative party at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, held under the presidency of Col. Harvey, the Marquis of Douro was asked to become a candidate for the representation of the city, in place of Lord Viscount Stormont, M.P., who had acceded to the request of the electors of his own county, Perthshire, to offer himself as their candidate on the dissolution of Parliament. The requisition to the Marquis was signed by 1,600 of the electors of Norwich; his lordship complied with the request and issued his address on February 13th. Lord Douro and the sitting member, the Hon. Robert Campbell Scarlett, commenced a personal canvass of the city on June 16th, and in the evening attended a meeting of the Orange and Purple Club, at the Maid’s Head Hotel, at which they were unanimously adopted Conservative candidates.
24.—During a severe gale from the N.N.W., accompanied by heavy snow squalls, the Raby Castle, of 60 tons burden (Greensides, master), went ashore at Salthouse, and became a total wreck. She was bound from London to Stockton, with a valuable cargo. The crew and passengers were saved. “When she broke up the beach was strewed with spirits, wine, oranges, nuts, teas, toys, hampers, boxes, &c. The scene beggared description. The most outrageous and beastly conduct was exhibited. Here might be observed a group broaching a spirit cask, and letting it run into their oil-skin hats, shoes, &c. There another stood filling their pockets and handkerchiefs. Plunder, wholesale plunder, appeared to be the order of the day, in spite of contingents of coastguard men. Many who were charged to watch the property became themselves intoxicated. Many were conveyed from the beach literally dead drunk, and it is with disgust we add that many women were in the same state.” The cargo of the Raby Castle was worth £5,000; about £800 worth was recovered. The vessel was sold by auction for £41.
3.—A fine specimen of the sea eagle was shot at Blickling. It measured from tip to tip of the extended wings 7 ft. 3½ inches, and from the head to the tail 3 ft. Dowager Lady Suffield presented it to the Norfolk and Norwich Museum.
13.—The tolls arising from the Norwich provision and cattle markets, and from Tombland Fair, were, for the first time, put up to public auction and let for the term of two years. The dues and stallage accruing from the provision and vegetable markets were let to Mr. Eccleston, jun., for £985; of the cattle market on the Castle Ditches to Mr. Liddelow, for £480; and of Tombland Fair, &c., to Mr. Cooke for £250.
16.—Died at his residence, Chapel Field, Norwich, aged 48, Mr. Alfred Pettet, organist of St. Peter Mancroft and St. Stephen’s. Mr. S. Critchfield was elected his successor at St. Peter’s, and Mr. Harcourt was appointed organist at St. Stephen’s. A performance of “The Messiah” was given at St. Andrew’s Hall on May 26th for the benefit of the widow and family of the deceased, by the choir of the Cathedral and the members of the Choral Society, under the direction of Mr. Buck.
18.*—“From an idea that when the new Registration Act comes into operation the fees will be increased, numbers of persons have thronged Yarmouth parish church for several Sundays past, to have their children baptised, in order to avoid additional expense.”
—Matters were brought before the Lord Chancellor in relation to affairs of the Norwich charities arising from the Master’s report assigning the several charities to certain lists of trustees, and naming the parties to execute the respective trusts. The only new point noticed was the exception taken by a cross petition on the part of Mr. Bignold and Mr. Rackham to the Master’s report, first as to his rejecting en masse every individual who was at its close, or ever had been, a member of the old Corporation; and, secondly, in not assigning to the Church list the Boys’ and Girls’ Hospital trusts. The Chancellor decided against the cross petition. (The leading charity of the city, the Bishopgate Street Hospital, whose revenues formed two-thirds of the whole of the trusts, was secured to a body of trustees composed exclusively of members of the Church of England.) In the House of Lords on April 24th Mr. Samuel Bignold and Mr. William Rackham appealed from the order of the Lord Chancellor referring it to the Master to approve of the trustees of the charity estates of the Corporation. Their lordships decided that they had jurisdiction to hear the appeal, and time was given for the respondents to prepare their case.
20.—Mr. Villebois’ staghounds had a remarkable run. The stag was uncarted on Bradenham Green, and ran to Shipdham. It was then headed back to Saham, after which it went to Ovingon, and thence to Watton, Scoulton, Ellingham, Caston, and Rocklands. Bearing away for Attleborough and Besthorpe, it crossed the stream and went through Snetterton, Eccles, and Larlingford, to Roudham, where it was taken after a run of 35 miles. “James Lynn, the huntsman, rode his favourite horse, Cockfighter, which carried him at least eighty miles that day. What makes the run more remarkable is that the deer did not run more than 200 yards upon any roads during the whole distance.”
22.—A fire occurred at Rollesby Workhouse, which completely destroyed one half of the building. “The clause of the Poor Law Bill, by which men are separated from their wives, being carried into effect, caused a great disturbance,” and it was supposed that the fire resulted from motives of revenge.
27.—Mr. G. V. Brooke appeared at Lynn Theatre in the character of Romeo.
30.—At a meeting held at the King’s Head Inn, Diss, the Rev. William Manning, rector of the parish, made a voluntary commutation of the tithes.
5.—Died at his house in Hereford Street, London, the Right Rev. Henry Bathurst, Lord Bishop of Norwich. His lordship was in the 94th year of his age, and had been Bishop of the diocese for 32 years. He was appointed in 1805 when Bishop Manners Sutton was translated to the Archbishopric of Canterbury. The funeral took place on the 14th at Malvern Church, Worcestershire, and a memorial service was held on the same day at Norwich Cathedral. A funeral sermon was preached on the 16th by the Dean of Norwich. The sale of the late Bishop’s effects, by Mr. William Spelman, commenced at the Palace on June 26th, and concluded on July 5th. The stock of wine consisted of 2,650 bottles, and the library of 2,000 volumes.
6.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Coltman, John Smith, George Timms, and John Varnham, were indicted for the murder of Hannah Manfield (or Saddler), on the night of the 2nd, or morning of the 3rd of January. The trial commenced at 10.20 in the morning, and concluded at fifteen minutes past midnight, when the jury returned a verdict of guilty, and the prisoners were sentenced to death. The sentence on Varnham was commuted on an ample confession by the other prisoners. Large numbers of persons arrived at Norwich on April 22nd, to witness the execution, which, however, had been ordered for the 29th. A full descriptive account of the supposed execution, and of the behaviour of the men on the gallows, with a copy of their confessions and their “last dying words,” was hawked about the streets of the city. The capital sentence was duly carried out on the 29th. The procession issued from the castle doors at noon, headed by a number of javelin men of the High Sheriff’s posse. Smith, who was in the last stage of a rapid decline, was assisted to the scaffold. “After the bolt was drawn and the bodies swung round, a piercing cry of horror rose from the dense mass of people of both sexes. After hanging the usual space of time the bodies were taken down and carried into the interior of the gaol, when all the prisoners were brought forward to view them in the place where they lay.”
7.—North Walsham Steeplechases took place over a four mile course on the estate of Mr. Bidwell, at Swafield. The heavy weight race was won by Lord Suffield’s Metternich (Capt. Lawrenson, 17th Lancers), second Mr. Thompson’s Mungo (owner); and the light weight race by Mr. Sandiford’s Gulnoire (Mr. Brown); Mr. Hornor’s O’Connell (owner) second. Lord Suffield presided at the race dinner, afterwards held at the King’s Arms Inn, and presented the silver tankard, given and won by himself in the heavy weight race, to Capt. Lawrenson. A large coloured plate, illustrating the start of the eleven horses for the heavy weight race, “with a distant view of the country, from sketches made on the spot by George Fenn, animal portrait painter, Beccles,” was subsequently advertised.
11.—James Greenacre, who on this day was found guilty, at the Central Criminal Court, of the murder of Hannah Brown, in the Edgeware Road, was a Norfolk man, and was born in 1785, at North Runcton, near Lynn. His victim, whose maiden name was Gay, was a Norfolk woman, and was in the service of Lord Wodehouse, at Kimberley Hall, where she remained four years. Greenacre (who was executed on May 2nd) was concerned in the Cato Street Conspiracy.
14.—Sir James Flower closed his hunting season by entertaining his sporting friend’s at the Swan Inn, East Harling. The dinner was of the most sumptuous character, and “a band of fourteen men in scarlet played numerous airs and concerted pieces.”
19.—Mr. G. V. Brooke (then under twenty years of age) made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre as Romeo. “His performance was of that superior kind, exhibiting all the fervour and enthusiasm of youth attempered by that discriminating judgment and illumined by those nice and acute perceptions which belong to the faculties of much maturer years.” He afterwards appeared as Ion, Othello, Rolla, Richard the Third, William Tell, Hamlet, Rosenberg (“Ella Rosenberg”), Macbeth, and Teddy (“Teddy the Tiler”), and concluded his engagement on May 20th. Brooke was re-engaged for two nights’ performances, commencing on August 1st, when he played the part of Walter Tyrrel, in a new drama of that title, and of Frederick Bury (“The Youthful Queen”).
20.—A meeting, presided over by Col. Harvey, was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, when, on the motion of Mr. J. J. Gurney, it was decided to form a District Provident Society, for the promotion of frugal and provident habits among the industrial poor.
—The ship Anne, of 400 tons burden (Captain John Long), sailed from Lynn with 171 emigrants, for Quebec.
22.—The announcement was made on this date: “The Eastern Counties Railway has been commenced in good earnest.”
24.—A curious wager was decided at the Angel Gardens, New Catton, Norwich. “Joseph Turtle, aged 60, engaged to pick up 100 eggs laid at a yard distance from each other, in a shorter time than David Lambert, aged 20, should pick up 100 stones at the same distance, which was won by Lambert only by half a minute.”
29.—Announcement was made of the appointment of the Rev. Edward Stanley, rector of Alderley, Cheshire, to the Bishopric of Norwich. Agreeable to the conge d’élire, the Dean and Chapter elected him Bishop on April 29th; by Royal command the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him on May 10th, and on May 11th he arrived at Norwich, accompanied by Mrs. Stanley and his daughters. On June 29th his lordship was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and on the same day did homage to Queen Victoria at Kensington Palace. The enthronement took place at Norwich Cathedral on August 17th, when all the usual ceremonies were observed, and the sermon was preached by his lordship. “The interior of the Cathedral presented a most magnificent coup d’œil. A gallery had been erected from the foot of the railing before the altar up to the centre of the east window, and occupied the entire breadth of the east end. It afforded accommodation for 1,150 children of the city. All the side galleries and closets were filled with ladies elegantly dressed, and even the walks above were crowded with spectators.” At five o’clock the Bishop attended a dinner, presided over by the High Sheriff (Mr. J. Petre) at the Norfolk Hotel. On the 18th the Mayor, Sheriff, and several members of the Corporation waited upon his lordship at the Palace, and presented him with a congratulatory address.
3.—At the Norwich Theatre was produced for the first time “an entirely new comedy, written by a gentleman of the city, called ‘Come of Age, or the Happy Return.’” The critic of the Norfolk Chronicle described it as “a play without a plot, and a comedy without comicality.”
4.—Mr. Clifford, who had been for thirty-six years a member of the Norwich Company, took his farewell benefit at the Theatre. Mr. G. V. Brooke appeared in the character of Virginius. Clifford died on June 8th, aged 68. “During the 36 years that he filled the office of prompter, he discharged his arduous duties in a way that ensured him the attachment of every member of the company. A man of highly-cultivated intellect, Mr. Clifford was not less distinguished for his goodness of heart, manliness of disposition, and integrity of principle.”
11.—Mr. Gepps, of the White Lion Inn, Beccles, for a wager of £200, drove his “celebrated bay pony” one hundred miles in twelve hours. He started from the Swan Inn, Harleston, at 4 a.m., drove to the Ram Inn, Newmarket, and returned to the Round House at Denton, midway between Harleston and Bungay. The journey was performed 35 minutes within the time stipulated. “The pony received no punishment from the whip, yet the wantonness of the act is much to be regretted.”
19.—Died at Kempstone, Lieut.-General the Hon. William FitzRoy. He was the seventh son of Charles, first Lord Southampton, and had served in the campaigns in Holland and Egypt. Upon retiring from the Army, he applied himself to agricultural pursuits.
20.—Two prisoners, named Smith and Middleton, escaped from the Norwich City Gaol. “One lowered himself by a rope of blankets from the cell, and the other leaped down a depth of 25 ft., by which he sprained his ankle, so that they got no further than Dereham, where they were both retaken on the 22nd.”
24.—At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the benefit of Mr. Smith, “an entirely new drama written for the occasion by T. Dibden, called ‘The Factory.’” The performance concluded with a new drama, also acted for the first time, entitled, “Margaret of Ragensburg,” written by Mr. G. Smith. The plot of “The Factory” had a local setting, and the scenery, painted by Thorne, “consisted of accurate views of the Yarn Factories at Lakenham and St. Edmund’s, and the interior of St. Andrew’s Hall at the late commemoration of Bishop Blaize.”
24.—The attainment by her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria of her legal majority on her eighteenth birthday was celebrated with much enthusiasm. The Corporation of Norwich held a special meeting, at which, on the motion of Mr. Bignold, seconded by Mr. Barwell, an address was voted to her Royal Highness. The members then proceeded in state to the Cathedral, where a special service was held and the sermon preached by Prebendary Wodehouse. Upon returning to the Guildhall, refreshments were provided by the Mayor, who, in the evening, gave a dinner at the Swan Inn. At Yarmouth a Royal salute was fired in the Roads by his Majesty’s revenue cutters; and at East Dereham the West Norfolk Conservatives celebrated the event by dining at the Assembly Rooms, under the presidency of Mr. Charles Loftus. The day was also observed in other towns and villages.
25.—At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor, a movement was inaugurated for the erection of a monument in the Cathedral to the memory of Bishop Bathurst.
29.—The birthday of William IV. falling this year on Sunday, was celebrated, for the last time, on the following day (the 29th), the anniversary of the Restoration of Charles II.
3.—At the Assembly Rooms, Norwich, was exhibited “Monsieur Daguire and Co.’s celebrated grand spectacular revolving dioramic panorama, representing views of the city of Paris and the conflicts of the memorable days of July, 1830, and also the battle of Navarino.” There were ten views, each 35 ft. in width, and the whole painted on 16,000 square feet of canvas.
7.—The first annual general meeting of the proprietors of the East of England Bank was held “in the board room of the extensive premises now rapidly completing for the Bank in the Old Haymarket, Norwich.”
10.*—“Married, lately, at Stoke Dammeral, Devon, Mr. Charles Thurtell, R.N., to Ann Augusta, youngest daughter of Mr. John Morgan, surgeon, R.N.”
21.—This day was received at Norwich intelligence of the death of his Majesty King William IV. The bells of all the city churches were tolled throughout the day. On the 25th (Sunday) the pulpits, communion tables, and reading-desks of all churches were draped in black, and special sermons were preached. In consequence of the funeral taking place on Saturday, the 7th, the public markets at Norwich were held on the 6th. On the day of the interment, the shops in the city, without a single exception, were closed, and public business entirely suspended. The Mayor and Sheriff, with members of the Corporation, attended the special service at the Cathedral, where the sermon was preached by Dean Pellew.
23.—The accession of her Royal Highness the Princess Alexandrina Victoria to the Crown of the United Kingdom was proclaimed in Norwich with the customary formalities. The members of the Corporation assembled at the Guildhall and took the oath of allegiance, after which they proceeded to the leads, where, amid a scene of great enthusiasm, the Mayor read the Proclamation, and “God save the Queen” was played by a band in the Market Place. The civic procession, escorted by the 17th Lancers, under the command of Major St. Quintin, made a detour of the city, and the Proclamation was read at various places en route. The accession was officially proclaimed also at Yarmouth and Lynn.
27.—The 17th Lancers, commanded by Major St. Quintin, marched from Norwich Barracks, and were replaced by three troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, under the command of Major Huntly.
1.—Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, one of the leaders of the Conservative party in Norwich, issued his address as Parliamentary candidate for Ashburton, Devonshire. (At the election Mr. Browne polled 83 votes, against 98 recorded for his opponent, Mr. Lushington.)
6.—Notice was given of the appointment of Mr. Charles Drake as registrar for the Conesford district; Mr. W. P. Nichols, Mancroft district; Mr. William Henry Taylor, West Wymer district; and Mr. William Tawell Roper, Coslany district, under the new Act of Parliament for the registration of births, deaths, and marriages. Mr. John Oddin Taylor was appointed registrar of marriages for the whole of the districts above-named, and Mr. Francis John Blake was superintendent registrar.
9.—At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, addresses of congratulation to the Queen and of condolence with the Queen Dowager were unanimously adopted.
21.—The elevation to the Peerage of Mr. T. W. Coke, of Holkham; by the names, styles, and titles of Viscount Coke and Earl of Leicester, was announced in the “London Gazette” of this date.
24.—The nomination of candidates for the representation of Norwich took place, consequent upon the death of the King, at the Guildhall. Arthur Richard Wellesley, Marquis of Douro, was nominated by Sir Robert John Harvey, and seconded by Mr. Samuel Bignold; the Hon. Robert Campbell Scarlett by Lieut.-Col. Harvey, seconded by Mr. E. T. Booth; Mr. Benjamin Smith (son of the late member) by Mr. Edward Trafford, seconded by Mr. W. Dalrymple; and Mr. W. Mountford Nurse by Mr. J. W. Robberds, seconded by Dr. Evans. Polling commenced on the 25th, and the result was declared on the 26th, as follows:—Douro (C), 1,863; Scarlett (C), 1,865; Smith (L), 1,843; Nurse (L), 1,831. On the 27th the newly-elected members dined with their supporters at the Norfolk Hotel, and the chairing took place on the 28th.
—The nomination of candidates took place at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, and the polling on the 25th resulted as follows:—C. E. Rumbold (L), 790; W. Wilshere, 779; Lord Baring, 699; and C. S. Gambier, 685. The two first-named were elected.
—Major Keppel, the Liberal candidate, made a triumphal entry into Lynn, accompanied by a band of music and escorted by the Holkham tenantry and the tenantry of Sir W. B. ffolkes. The nomination took place on the 25th, and upon a poll being demanded voting commenced at once. The result was declared as follows:—Lord George Bentinck (C), 473; Sir Stratford Canning (C), 389; Major Keppel (L), 367. The two first-named were declared elected.
4.—The result of the polling at the West Norfolk election was declared at Swaffham; Mr. William Bagge (C), 3,178; Mr. W. L. W. Chute (C), 2,877; Sir W. B. ffolkes (L), 2,838; Sir Jacob Astley (L), 2,713.
5.—The nomination of candidates for East Norfolk took place at Norwich. Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. H. N. Burroughes (Conservatives) entered the city escorted by upwards of 400 horsemen. The Liberal candidates were Mr. William Howe Windham and Mr. Richard Hanbury Gurney (who was confined to his house by a severe attack of gout). The polling was held on the 8th and 9th, and the result was declared on the 10th:—Wodehouse, 3,645; Burroughes, 3,523; Windham, 3,237; Gurney, 2,978. The majority on the first day’s poll being 170 against them, the Liberal candidates withdrew from the contest. Mr. Burroughes celebrated his return by giving a fête champêtre at Burlingham Hall on the 16th.
12.—A dreadful murder was committed at Aylmerton. James Moy, a labourer, after rocking his infant son to sleep, cut the child’s throat with a pocket-knife. At the inquest the Coroner’s jury returned a verdict of wilful murder, and the prisoner was committed to Norwich Castle to await his trial. At the Norfolk Assizes, in April, 1838, before Mr. Justice Bolland, the jury found that the man was insane and incapable of pleading, and his lordship directed his detention at Thorpe Asylum.
23.—Died at Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdonshire, Mr. William Henry Fellowes, of Haveringland Hall, aged 69. “He was for upwards of 30 years one of the representatives of that county in Parliament, and was universally esteemed in all relations of life, and particularly by his extensive tenantry, to whom he was a kind and indulgent landlord.”
24.—A public discussion took place at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, between the notorious Richard Carlile and the Rev. John Green, a Dissenting minister, upon the subject of the validity of the Scriptures. “The discussion was conducted in an orderly and peaceable manner. Mr. Green held Carlile firmly to the point on all questions, and compelled him to acknowledge himself unable to overthrow the testimony he quoted.” A second discussion was held on the 28th, when Carlile was again beaten by his opponent; and on the 29th he was hooted from the Market Place for attempting to address a meeting. On Jan. 5th, 1838, Mr. Green was presented with a set of books purchased by public subscription, “as a testimony of esteem and gratitude for the very able and satisfactory manner in which he had conducted the controversy.”
26.—Royal licence and authority were granted to Mr. William Blake, of Swanton Abbots, to assume and use the surname of Jex in addition to and before that of Blake, and to bear the arms of Jex quarterly in the second quarter with those of Blake.
26.*—“The Incorporation of Tunstead and Happing comprises 41 parishes, and it is remarkable that there is not one able-bodied man either an inmate of the Workhouse or receiving parochial relief. Such has not been known since the Workhouse was built in the year 1787.”
—*“Last week a number of youngsters at Norwich had an election for the members of the Lilliput Parliament. The polling took place at the Old Library. After a severe contest, during which it was alleged by the ‘Purples’ that a great deal of cooping, bribery, treating, and double voting took place on the part of the ‘Blues,’ and that sums to the amount of two pence were given for a vote, the ‘Blues’ claimed the victory, and chaired their members on the following day, with a splendid procession, banners and flags flying, and the band playing, ‘Wave your Blues and Whites.’ The ‘Purples’ did not acknowledge this defeat, and on Tuesday last they also chaired their candidate with a procession equal in grandeur, after which the leading characters dined at the Bell Inn, and an election ball took place in the evening, at which 320 persons were present.”
1.—Heavy rain and hailstorms occurred throughout the county. “At Stibbard and Guist during a severe thunderstorm £300 worth of damage was done on several occupations. Barley and wheat were completely beaten out by the hailstones, which lay six inches deep in places on the following morning.”
9.—A shocking affair took place at Catton. Mr. Jonathan Whitley Cooper, an attorney practising in Norwich, was driving in a gig with his clerk (Thirkettle), when he was accosted by a man named Cornelius Moor. Mr. Cooper drew a pistol, discharged it at the man, and wounded him severely. Moor was conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he died the same night. On the following day Mr. Cooper was apprehended and committed to the Castle on the charge of killing Moor, and also of shooting at a man named Ford near the same place, on the same evening, with intent to murder. The case caused great excitement in Norwich. It was alleged that the prisoner had entertained malice towards the deceased arising out of circumstances connected with the Norwich election. Mr. Cooper had been professionally engaged on the Conservative side, and it was stated that the deceased, having promised to vote for that party, voted for the Liberals. At the Coroner’s inquest the imputation of malice or any preconceived design was so completely negatived by the evidence, and more especially by the dying declaration of Moor, who was quite unknown to the prisoner, that the jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, which so greatly excited the indignation of the populace that they were with difficulty prevented from assaulting the jurymen on their leaving the Coroner’s court. There was also a hearing of the case before the Recorder (Mr. Preston) and another magistrate, with the result that the prisoner was committed to the Castle on the mittimus of the magistrates, and confined in one of the felons’ cells. Application was made to the county magistrates for bail, and was refused. Under these circumstances, counsel was instructed to apply to the Judge of the Queen’s Bench for an order on the Norfolk justices to admit the prisoner to bail. Mr. Justice Littledale made the order accordingly, and the accused was released in his own recognisances of £500 and four sureties of £100 each. (See April 4th, 1838.)
17.—Died in Norwich, aged 77, Mr. John Whitaker Robberds. He was elected Alderman in 1806, served the office of Sheriff in 1807, and was Mayor in 1814.
25.—A prize-fight took place at Thurton for £5 a side, between Ostler and Cricknell, well-known Norwich pugilists. “After a contest of one hour and a quarter, Ostler having broken a bone in his hand by a fall, was obliged to give in, and Cricknell was declared the victor.”
—“What was termed a temperance festival” took place at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. Upwards of one thousand persons were present, and five hundred applications for tea tickets were refused. The Lord Bishop of Norwich delivered an address. Supper followed, and “everything was conducted in good order.”
2.—Died at Rome, Mr. Henry Bernes. “This artist was not long since a visitor in Norwich, and was known as Mr. Burlowe, a name he took to distinguish himself from his brother, the celebrated sculptor, which branch of art he also followed. Amongst other works of his hand is the last bust taken of Dr. Bathurst, our late venerable Bishop, in his 88th year.”
8.—Died at Grosvenor Street, London, in her 75th year, the Dowager Duchess of Leeds. Her grace was mistress of the robes to the Queen Dowager. She was a daughter of Mr. Thomas Anguish, and married the Duke of Leeds in October, 1788.
9.—Died in St. Clement’s, Norwich, aged 55, Mr. Richard Shaw, who was elected Sheriff in 1818, Alderman in 1835, and was one of the Town Councillors for the Seventh Ward.
16.—M. Thalberg, “the extraordinary pianist,” appeared at a concert given at the Assembly Room, Norwich, by Mr. Mori. Miss Fanny Woodham and Mr. Parry, jun., were the other performers.
—The Bishop of Norwich concluded his “circuit of confirmations.” The total numbers confirmed during the circuit were 3,354 males and 6,919 females.
18.—Died, at the age of 77, Mr. James Robinson, of St. John Maddermarket, “the oldest medical practitioner in Norwich.” For 38 years he filled the office of City Surgeon, and was for 45 years surgeon to the House of Correction.
23.—Mr. R. W. Dowson, of Geldeston, was presented with a piece of plate by the agriculturists of Norfolk and Suffolk, “as a testimony of their sincere regard and high estimation of his strict integrity in mercantile pursuits manifested during the last half century.”
29.—At St. Swithin’s Church, Norwich, were baptised “a Jewish Israelite and his two children, on which interesting occasion his wife, who from Christianity had lapsed into Judaism, was again received into the Church.”
9.—At the meeting of the Norwich Town Council for the election of Mayor, Mr. T. O. Springfield nominated Mr. Samuel Shalders Beare, and Mr. Bignold Mr. William Martin Seppings. The former was elected, by 28 votes to 17. Mr. Massey moved the appointment of Mr. John Francis as Sheriff, and Mr. Rackham proposed Mr. James Steward. Mr. Francis was appointed, by 27 votes to 12.
11.*—“The tobacco manufacturers residing in Norwich have obtained from the Lords of the Treasury and the Commissioners of Customs the privilege of bonding that article at Yarmouth, where a warehouse has been specially fitted up for the purpose, and is now stored with manufactured tobacco of the value of about £5,000 when the duty is paid on it. Mr. Newbegin and Mr. Wigham are the first importers.”
18.*—“By the official account of the duty on hops of the growth of 1837 we find Norfolk makes a return of £48 10s. 0d.”
21.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, it was agreed, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, to appoint a committee to consider the propriety of encouraging the establishment of a school of design, with the view to the improvement of the manufactures of the city. (See May 9th, 1838.)
29.—Died at his house, St. Catherine’s Close, Norwich, in his 92nd year, Mr. John Morse. “This justly respected gentleman was Father of the old Corporation of Norwich.” He was elected an alderman of the North Mancroft Ward in 1777, served the office of Sheriff in 1779, and was twice Mayor, namely, in 1781 and 1803.
30.—The 24th Article of the Deed of Settlement having empowered a general meeting of the members to make bylaws for the regulation and government of the Norwich Union Life Insurance Society, to be binding when confirmed by two other general meetings summoned for that purpose, the third general meeting was held on this date, with the object of finally confirming the bylaws adopted at a general meeting on November 2nd, and confirmed by a second general meeting on November 16th. An extraordinary degree of interest was manifested, and deputations arrived at Norwich from all parts of the kingdom. The meeting, which was held in a booth erected in Mr. Bignold’s garden, was attended by about 300 or 400 persons. Mr. O’Connell, M.P., the famous Irish agitator, was present. “On this occasion his whole course was pre-eminently marked by good feeling, excellent temper, and discreet judgment, united to a gentlemanlike exercise of his acknowledged tact and talent in furtherance of a most salutory object, in which he was happily successful,” namely, the obtaining of a unanimous expression of approval of the reports made by the committee for revising the bylaws.
—Mr. O’Connell, M.P., was entertained at dinner at the Angel Inn, Norwich, by members of the Whig-Radical interest. Mr. T. O. Springfield presided. At nine o’clock on the following morning, prior to his departure from the city, Mr. O’Connell addressed a large meeting at St. Andrew’s Hall.
4.—In the House of Commons a petition was presented by Sir F. Burdett against the return of Messrs. Rumbold and Wilshere as members for Yarmouth. It was alleged that the grossest bribery had been practised. (See April 28th, 1838.)
14.—A pauper named John Cawdron died at Norwich Workhouse, of which institution he had been an inmate 47 years, 8 months, 3 days, at the cost of £350 16s. 7d.
16.—At this date the following coaches ran from the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich:—To London, the Phenomena, every morning at 6.30. To Newark, the Union, every morning, except Sunday, at 7. To Birmingham, the Royal Mail, every evening at 7 (through Lynn, Spalding, &c.). To Lynn, the Day coach. To Yarmouth, coaches three times a day. To Lowestoft, the Pilot, every afternoon. To Fakenham and Wells, a coach every afternoon at 4. To Watton, the Royal George.
18.—On the occasion of the benefit of Mr. and Mrs. Atkins, at the Royal Amphitheatre, Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, was produced “a grand local historical and romantic original drama, written expressly for this entertainment by Mr. R. F. Rayner, called ‘Etheldrida, Princess of Norwich, or the Kings of Mercia and East Anglia and the Wild Woman of Mosswold Heath.’”
21.—The load of Christmas fare which left Swaffham for London on this date “did not reach the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, until half-past four on the following morning, although drawn by relays of six horses all the way from Brandon.”
25.—“For its extreme mildness and sunny brightness this was more like May Day than Christmas Day, with the thermometer at 55 and a southern breeze.”
30.*—“The town of Diss has been lighted with gas, which produces a splendid effect, and reflects great credit on Messrs. J. and T. Whaite, ironfounders, by whom it is supplied.”
1.—The weather on this day was of a beautiful and spring-like character. During the remainder of the week “the moon in her first quarter and the planet Venus made the evenings most brilliant. Never in the memory of man did the old year go out or the new one come in with such splendour as the last and the present. Both days in all respects resembled April or even May much more than December or January.”
3.—A public meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, “for the purpose of taking into consideration the present dreadful condition of the negroes, with the view of petitioning both Houses of Parliament for the abolition of the system of apprenticeship.” The Mayor presided, and the principal speakers were Mr. George Thompson, the eloquent advocate of the negroes’ cause, and Mr. Thomas Fowell Buxton. Similar meetings were held in various parts of the county.
5.—The new District Schools at St. Augustine’s Gates, Norwich, were opened by the Lord Bishop. They were intended to accommodate 450 children, and were supported by voluntary subscriptions.
6.—Wintry weather set in with great severity. The frost commenced on the 7th, and continued to increase in intensity till the 20th, “when the thermometer recorded 30 degrees below freezing point, a depression greater than in the intense frost of 1814, when, on January 9th, it stood at 28 degrees below freezing.” There was a thaw on the 21st, but on the 23rd the frost recommenced, and on the 24th the weather was bitterly cold. Remarkable snowdrifts occurred on roads near the coast. “The river at Lynn was a solid bed of ice. From the eastern side to the opposite shores of West Lynn and North Lynn persons passed and re-passed with the same facility and safety as if it had been land. A similar circumstance had not occurred for half a century.” A second thaw, with a southerly wind, commenced on the 29th, but on February 1st the wind veered to the east, and another frost set in. From February 13th to the 15th the weather was so severe that water indoors was frozen, and on the 16th the thermometer stood at 16 degrees below freezing point. A decided thaw took place on the 22nd, but on the 23rd a fourth frost occurred. In the week commencing March 4th a rapid thaw was followed by heavy rains, ice and snow vanished with surprising rapidity, and business was resumed on the navigable streams, which for so long had been impassable. Throughout the frost “the poulterers were abundantly supplied with British and foreign wild fowl of all descriptions.”
12.—Died at Downham Market, in his 69th year, Mr. G. W. Lemon, son of the Rev. G. W. Lemon, formerly vicar of East Walton and rector of Gayton Thorpe. He was for 40 years an annual contributor to “Fulcher’s Ladies’ Pocket Book,” and wrote for the newspaper Press many articles on a variety of subjects.
15.—The members of the Norwich Madrigal Society held their first public meeting at the old Library Room, St. Andrew’s Hall. The programme contained a composition by Mr. J. F. Hill, son of Mr. John Hill, the Festival chorus master, entitled, “I saw fair Chloris.” “It is a madrigal truly worthy of the Elizabethan age, and has been recognised as such by the London Madrigal Society, into whose stock it has been received. Not a single modern phrase is to be detected.”
18.—The old Norwich Glee Club, revived under the title of “The Norwich Glee and Harmonic Society,” gave its first concert under the conductorship of Mr. Harcourt, organist of St. Stephen’s church.
22.—The tide in Yarmouth Harbour was the lowest ever recorded. “The bed of the river was left dry more than 20 feet from the quay head.”
27.*—“The severity of the weather has induced several families in the neighbourhood of Holt to adopt the American fashion of travelling in sledges. The greatest curiosity is caused among the natives.”
5.—Norwich Theatre was opened for the season with the engagement of the Boleno family, who appeared in a pantomime-ballet, followed by tableaux, &c.
7.—At a general meeting of the shareholders of the Norfolk and Norwich Museum, it was resolved “that the property lately used as a public library be purchased, and the building committee authorised to make such alterations and additions thereto as may be requisite for affording accommodation to the Museum, the Literary Institution, the Norfolk and Norwich United Medical Book Society, and any other institution of a literary or scientific nature who may wish to take rooms under the same roof as the Museum, the money to be raised by voluntary donations and shares of £5 each, bearing interest at three per cent. per annum.”
9.—At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. Bignold moved the appointment of a committee to draw up a petition to both Houses of Parliament in favour of the adoption of the penny postage. The petition was adopted on February 22nd.
16.—Died, aged 83, Mr. Edmund Manning, of London Street, Norwich, “the oldest and wealthiest retired tradesman in St. Peter Mancroft.” He was a brazier by trade. “Some property which his father left him with what he had himself industriously acquired, was so parsimoniously hoarded during his long-protracted life it accumulated the immense sum of £70,000, of which between £50,000 and £60,000 were in the Funds. His annual income at the time of his death was upwards of £2,100 a year, and his expenses were probably not 20s. a week. The great bulk of his property was left to distant relations for whom he affected to have no regard, whilst those whose expectations he had raised (even on the day before his death) had reason to be dissatisfied. He gave to Mr. T. S. Norgate £29,000, and to the Rev. T. S. Buckle £14,500, and to Mr. Manning, of London, £14,500. The remainder he has bequeathed, in various sums, from £1 to £300, to friends and acquaintances and to certain charitable institutions. He also bequeathed £4,000 three per cent. Consols to the trustees of the charity schools, the dividends to be applied annually to apprenticing poor boys.”
19.—A prize-fight took place at Bedingham, between Cricknell and Balls, of Norwich. “After a contest of 53 minutes, Balls was obliged to give in.”
24.*—“Died lately, in the Workhouse at Downham Market, at the advanced age of 100 years, Samuel Simpson. He retained his faculties to the last, and was able to walk with astonishing alacrity.”
—*“We cannot but lament the loss which science sustains in the death of Mr. Samuel Woodward. He was an excellent geologist, particularly as regards his native county. His principal works were ‘The Outline of the Geology of Norfolk’ and ‘Synopsis of British Organic Remains.’ He was a skilful and unwearied antiquary, and through his means were recorded many valuable notices of Norfolk antiquities.”
—The ship Benwell, Captain Moody, 300 tons burden, bound from Newcastle to London, with a cargo valued at £20,000, was lost on Sheringham Shoals. “The crew of eleven hands, two male and five female passengers, were landed on Burnham beach almost in a state of nudity.”