“This is to satfy that I Samyoul Wilkerson sold my wife to Mr. Gorge Springle for the sum of one pound one before witness.

Samyoul X Wilkerson
Maryann Wilkerson X her mark
Gorge Springle X his mark
Frederick Cornish, witness.”

7.—Died, Mr. George Cooke Tucker, landlord of the New Inn, Cromer.  “The present flourishing establishment was built and raised by him.  Possessed of a peculiar courteousness of manner, and endowed with great kindness of disposition, he was alike esteemed by the resident gentry and the general inhabitants of the place and neighbourhood.  He had reached the patriarchal age of ninety years.”

11.—Died, aged 62, Mr. William Norman, Windsor Place, New Lakenham, “many years hair dresser to his late Majesty George III.”

18.—At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the first time, a new melodrama, in three acts, entitled, “The Student of Jena,” by Mr. Wm. Cooper, B.A., barrister, of Norwich.  “The play is founded on the romance of the ‘Diamond Watch,’ a piece of diablerie, emanating from the German school.”

26.—Thurlow, the pedestrian, commenced a walk of 2,000 miles in one thousand hours, at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich.  (No further record.)  Robert Skipper, “the celebrated pedestrian, of Norfolk and Norwich, having been absent on the Continent and in different counties, where he has won several matches, and is now in his 55th year,” began a walk on June 21st, of 50 miles per day for twenty successive days, at the Green Hill Gardens, St. Augustine’s Gates, Norwich.  He completed the task on Sunday, July 10th, “and did not appear to be in the least distressed.”

28.—Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced, at Norwich Theatre, a five nights’ engagement, prior to their final retirement from the stage.  The operas produced included “Fra Diavolo,” “Midas,” “La Somnambula,” and “Norma.”

—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry assembled at Swaffham for eight days’ permanent duty, under the command of Major Loftus.

30.—Cricket was revived in Norwich by a match played on this date, between the Norwich Club and the officers and privates of the 13th Light Dragoons.  “Considerable fluctuation has for the last few years in Norwich marked the practice of this celebrated manly game, and about two years since nothing appeared more probable than its extinction.”

JUNE.

14.—Died, aged 65, at Long Island, United States, Mr. John Hunt, engraver, formerly of Norwich.  He was the author of a work on British ornithology.

19.—A severe thunderstorm occurred at Norwich.  “The wind blew a perfect hurricane.  Rushing in a straight line for Catton, it caught the high wall in St. Clement’s Square, and blew down about 30 yards of solid brickwork.”  The sails of Catton mill were blown off, trees were torn up by the roots, and the river suddenly rose above the banks in places.  At Harleston a marsh mill was overturned and houses were unroofed.

21.—Died at the Euston Hotel, London, Mr. Fred. Yates, aged 45, manager of the Adelphi Theatre.  He married, in 1823, Miss F. Brunton, granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, of Norwich.

30.—Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, aged 88, Thomas William Coke, Earl of Leicester.  His lordship was born on May 6th, 1753, and was returned for Norfolk in 1776.  With one brief intermission, he continued to represent the county until 1832.  He was created Earl of Leicester in 1837.  He married, in his twenty-third year, his cousin Jane, youngest daughter of Mr. James Dutton, who died June 2nd, 1800, leaving no male issue.  After remaining twenty-two years a widower, he married, February 26th, 1822, Lady Anne Amelia Keppel, third daughter of the Earl of Albemarle, her ladyship being then 19 and Mr. Coke 70 years of age.  The issue of the marriage were Thomas William, born in 1822; Edward Keppel, 1824; Henry Coke, 1827; Wenman Clarence Walpole, 1828; and Margaret Sophia, who, at the Earl’s death was only ten years of age.  The remains of the deceased nobleman arrived at Swaffham on July 10th, and were placed in the large room at the Crown Inn.  From four o’clock in the afternoon until nine in the evening the body lay in state, and immense numbers of persons passed through the apartment.  At nine o’clock on the morning of the 11th, muffled peals were rung, and at eleven o’clock the funeral procession started for Tittleshall.  It passed through Castle-acre, the Lexhams, and Litcham.  “At every spot where the main road crossed the cross roads were carriages in waiting to fall into the procession, which, marching in close order, was two miles in length.”  At Tittleshall church, where the interment took place, there was a great gathering of the personal friends and tenantry of the deceased earl.

JULY.

2.—Died at Hexham, Northumberland, aged 86, Mr. William Cooke, formerly of North Creake.  “About 60 years ago, under the auspices of Mr. T. W. Coke, and upon the estate of Earl Spencer, he introduced into Norfolk the drill system for corn.  He subsequently introduced into the same county the Northumberland turnip husbandry, and, in conjunction with Sir Mordaunt Martin and Dr. Letsome, established the cultivation of mangold wurzle in England.  During his latter years he devoted much time and his high mathematical attainments to perfecting the plough.”

6.—Races were held at East Dereham.  The other meetings this season were at Norwich on July 12th and 13th, Downham July 22nd, and Yarmouth September 6th and 7th.

9.—The funeral of Lord Townshend, who died at Hutton Lodge, Yorkshire, on June 28th, aged 56 years, took place at Bintry church.

14.—Major Boxall, of Swaffham, was killed at the brewery of Mr. Morse, in that town, by the fall of a portion of the roof.

16.—At a meeting of the yeomanry and tenantry of both political parties, held at the Swan Inn, Norwich, it was decided to erect, by public subscription, a monument to the memory of the late Earl of Leicester.  (See January 7th, 1843.)

23.—A correspondent, writing under this date to the Norfolk Chronicle, complained of the danger and annoyance caused on the public roads by vehicles drawn by dogs.  “If,” he wrote, “Parliament deemed it necessary two years ago to pass an Act prohibiting, under a severe penalty, the use of dogs as beasts of draught or burden in London and its neighbourhood for twenty miles around, surely the same necessity, as well on the score of humanity as of personal security to the public, does exist in reference to every other portion of the kingdom.”

24.—Died, aged 60, at Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, London, John Sell Cotman.

AUGUST.

1.—An acrobat, named Alleni, was descending a rope “in his chariot of fire,” at the Greyhound Gardens, Ber Street, Norwich, when his apparatus failed, the rope broke, and the unfortunate performer, falling a distance of thirty feet, was seriously injured.

6.—A correspondent complained that the “unrivalled tower” of Norwich Cathedral, then undergoing restoration, was “under the care of a plasterer, to be patched and pieced in his best manner with a compound of villainous ingredients scarcely tolerable on a shop front.”  Mr. John Brown, the Cathedral architect, replied, on August 10th, to the effect that the substance used was not plaster, but “hydraulic cement, calcined limestone and sand, which is more durable than stone.”  Much newspaper controversy ensued.

27.—A finner whale, discovered stranded upon a shoal in Lynn Roads, was secured by a boat’s crew who fastened a rope to its tail.  When the tide rose the whale dragged the boat with great velocity towards the town.  After a struggle of seven hours, it was landed.  It measured 50 ft. in length.

—*“Her Majesty has been pleased to grant unto William Hardy Cozens, Esq., of Letheringsett, her Royal licence to take and use the surname and arms of Hardy, in addition to his present name, in compliance with a condition contained in the will of his late uncle, William Hardy, Esq., of Letheringsett Hall.”

30.—A great rowing match took place on the Yare, at Norwich, in the presence of thousands of spectators.  The match, which was open to all England, was for a subscription cup or purse of £50, and was to be rowed in four-oared 36ft. boats, by amateurs.  Competing crews were entered by the Leander Club, London; King’s College Club, London; the Cambridge Amateur Club, and the Norwich Amateur Club.  The odds throughout were greatly in favour of the Londoners, and many heavy bets were made on Cambridge.  The course, about three miles, was from stakes on Bramerton Common to a spot nearly opposite Thorpe Gardens.  “The boats started two and two; the first two boats were started 100 yards apart at the same time; the winning boat of each pair had therefore to row another heat.  By the casting of lots, the Leander was pitted against King’s College, and Norwich against Cambridge.  The Leander had the lead of King’s College, and Cambridge the lead of Norwich.”  King’s College and Norwich won the first heat—the former in 22 minutes 30 seconds, and the latter in 21 minutes 30 seconds.  In the final heat Norwich beat King’s College easily.  The winning crew were composed as follow:—J. Kidd, 9 st. 10 lb.; J. Wigham, 10 st. 9 lb.; W. Clabburn, 11 st. 7 lb.; T. Clabburn (stroke), 9 st. 2 lb.; F. Bolingbroke (cox.), 8 st. 11 lb.  Trained by Noulton.

—The Royal squadron accompanying the Queen on her voyage to Scotland passed Yarmouth at five am.  On the return of her Majesty, on the evening of September 16th, several yawls put out to sea, and the occupants were gratified with a sight of the Queen and Prince Albert on the main deck of the Trident steamer.  Loud cheers were given for the Sovereign and her Consort.

SEPTEMBER.

10.—The publication of Part I. of Mr. Henry Ninham’s “Picturesque Antiquities of Norwich” was announced.

—A circus company, under the management of Madame Ducrow, commenced a series of performances at Norwich Theatre.  “The whole of the stage, 43 ft. square, was formed into a circus ring, decorated round with appropriate devices.  The circle was rendered moveable, so that dramatic representations similar to the late Astley’s Amphitheatre were introduced.”  These included “The Spanish Bullfight, or the Muleteer,” “Mazeppa,” “The Secret Mine, or the Hindoos of the Ruby Cliffs,” &c.  To enable the audience to obtain a full view of the ring performances, the floor of the pit was raised.

14.—Died at Yarmouth, in his 49th year, Mr. J. B. Crome.  “Besides inheriting the talents of that well-known ‘Father’ of the Norwich school of painting, he possessed literary attainments and theoretical knowledge which conferred both honour and advantage on his practical pursuits of Art.”

24.*—“The Queen has been pleased to grant unto the Rev. James Tooke Hales, of Glazenwood, in Essex, and of Thompson, in Norfolk, her Royal license and authority to assume the surname of Tooke in addition to and after that of Hales, and to bear the arms of Tooke.”

—*“Mr. C. F. Hall, of Norwich, has been appointed second leader of the orchestra of Drury Lane Theatre, after a contest of skill.  He is the composer of two ballads, ‘I have dream’d of hopes defeated’ and ‘The Inconstant.’”

OCTOBER.

11.—Died at his house on Scoles’ Green, Norwich, Mr. Robert Ladbrooke, artist, in his 73rd year.

13.—Died at Tunbridge Wells, aged 55, Sir John Jacob Buxton, Bart., of Shadwell Park, Norfolk, and of Tockenham House, Wilts.  He served the office of High Sheriff of Norfolk in 1841–2.

19.—At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, Johnson Hemnell was sentenced to fifteen years’ transportation for stealing promissory notes, gold, and silver, to the amount of £150, the property of Mr. Harrison Wells, of Dilham.  On the night after his conviction the convict accompanied two of the prison warders to Seething, where he showed them a garden bank in which £108 of the stolen money was found concealed.

NOVEMBER.

7.—An inquest was held at the Hare Arms, Stow Bardolph, on the body of John Vare, who died under singular circumstances.  On October 24th, at the Swan Inn, Downham, “he recited with considerable spirit to a party of tradesmen a piece out of ‘Othello,’ and at the finish, where Othello dies, deceased, as in the character, fell with considerable violence on the hearthrug at full length with his face down wards.  He complained of considerable pain, went home, and died.”

9.—Mr. Alderman Mitchell was elected Mayor, and Mr. William Freeman appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

18.—Died at Rawal Pindi, Lieut. Richard Edward Frere, 13th Light Infantry, aged 25.  He had been in every action throughout the war in Afghanistan, was repeatedly wounded, and was mentioned with distinction in dispatches.

19.*—“Messrs. Wells and Gardner, of Birmingham, have entered into an arrangement with T. T. Berney, Esq., of Morton Hall, Norfolk, for the manufacture of his patent cartridges so much approved by gentlemen and sportsmen generally, and have appointed local agents.”

26.*—“Sir Robert Peel has recommended her Majesty to grant an annual pension of £100 to Mr. John Curtis, the eminent naturalist and author of the great work, ‘British Entomology.’”  Curtis was a native of Norwich.

DECEMBER.

31.*—“During last week the coaches and vans were laden with turkeys and game for London.  From the Magnet Office alone upwards of 1,600 packages were consigned, containing at least 2,400 turkeys, besides geese and game.  The other coaches have had their share.  One manufacturing firm in the city sent 1,000 lbs. weight.”

1843.

JANUARY.

2.—Norwich Theatre opened for the season at reduced prices of admission, namely, boxes, single ticket, 4s., half price 2s., family tickets to admit six £1; upper boxes 2s., half price 1s.; pit 1s.  (no half price); gallery 6d.  The entire house had been redecorated by Mr. Thorne.  Mr. Frederick Vining, of the Haymarket Theatre, London, and his daughter, Miss Vining, appeared on the 16th in the parts of Benedict and Beatrice, and fulfilled an engagement of seven weeks.  The season, one of the most successful that Mr. Smith had experienced, was chiefly remarkable for the large number of “bespeaks” given, amongst others, by the officers of the 13th Light Dragoons, the Royal and Norfolk Hotel Wine Clubs, the Governor and Deputy-Governor of the Court of Guardians, &c.

5.—A heavy fall of snow on this day was accompanied by lightning and thunder.

6.—The first annual meeting of the Norfolk Flax Society, the object of which was “to promote the cultivation of a plant for the produce of which vast sums of money are annually sent abroad,” was held at Norwich.  It was stated that the soil and climate of the county were “equal and perhaps superior to any in the world for the growth and perfection of the plant, and its cultivation would be more profitable than that of any other crop.”  The method of “forming linseed into compound to fatten cattle” was demonstrated in a booth on the Castle Meadow, and an exhibition of articles manufactured from flax was held at St. Andrew’s Hall.  The Hon. W. R Rous was President of the Society, to which about eighty prominent agriculturists belonged.  M. Demann, a Belgian agriculturist, was engaged as the Society’s agent, and many meetings were held in the county in furtherance of the movement.

9.—Died, aged 60, at Birmingham, Mr. Vaughan, “the highly respectable musician and once excellent tenor singer.”  He was a native of Norwich, and when quite young was a member of the choir of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor.  He was afterwards engaged at Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Chapel Royal.  On the death of Mr. Harrison, in 1812, Mr. Vaughan was appointed principal tenor at the King’s Concerts of Ancient Music, he sang at most of the provincial musical festivals, and was a member of several musical clubs in the Metropolis.

FEBRUARY.

14.—The first touring circus in Norfolk at which performances were given under canvas was that belonging to Batty, “sole proprietor of Astley’s Royal Amphitheatre,” who on this date erected at Lynn Mart a tent 65 ft. in height and 300 ft. in circumference.  It was the same tent placed on the site of the Royal Exchange when Prince Albert laid the first stone of the new building, and on that occasion it afforded accommodation for 1,400 persons.  In the autumn of the same year Richard Sands’ American circus toured the county, giving one performance only in a “spacious pavilion” at each town visited.  A procession of “twenty-five caparisoned horses” was a feature of the show.  After this date the circus touring system became general during the summer and autumn months.

22.—Died at Caen, Normandy, aged 76, the Rev. T. D’Eterville, “a well-known and respected inhabitant of Norwich for upwards of forty years, who retired a few months ago to end his days in his native country.”  [Borrow’s “preceptor in the French and Italian tongues.”]

23.—The coach from London to Norwich, driven by Thomas Wiggins, ran into a brewer’s dray at Tasburgh, during a thick fog and was overturned.  Mr. Scott, of Newton Maid’s Head, one of the outside passengers, was jammed between the coach and a tree, which had to be cut down to extricate him, Wiggins was thrown head first off the box seat and severely injured, and the guard, Thomas, was dashed against a tree stump and killed outright, “his head being completely split open.”  It was not until January 22nd, 1844, that Wiggins was able to resume his duties.  It was then stated: “So highly is this excellent whip esteemed along the line of road, that at the several inns where the coach stopped to change horses it appeared as if the landlords had determined to celebrate the circumstance by making it a general gala day.”

27.—Yarmouth Orange Fair was held.  “Like the generality of fairs, it has fallen sadly out of repute, and but for the immense quantity of fruit from which it takes its name anyone might have passed the Market Place without noticing it.”

MARCH.

17.—At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, on the motion of Mr. A. Dalrymple, a petition to Parliament was adopted in opposition to the Income Tax, on the ground that it was “unjust, unwise, repugnant, and unproductive.”

18.—The Watton coach, on its way from Norwich, with six female outside passengers, stopped at Barford Cock.  During the temporary absence of Allen, the coachman, the horses started off at full gallop, and were not stopped till they arrived at Hingham.  With the exception of a wheel being taken off a passing vehicle, no damage was done.

APRIL.

4.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, was tried the case, the Queen against Edward Painter.  The prosecution, for assault, was instituted by Mr. Jeremiah Cross, corn merchant, of Norwich.  An indictment had been preferred at the Norwich Quarter Sessions and a true bill returned, which the defendant removed by writ of certiorari, and the case now came on for trial on the civil side of the Court.  The plaintiff, in June, 1842, was invited to the Rising Sun Inn, kept by Mr. John Abel, and he was there met by Painter, who for several minutes thrashed him with an ash stick so severely that for a considerable time afterwards plaintiff was under medical treatment.  For the defence it was alleged that Cross had grossly insulted the defendant’s daughter, hence the thrashing.  The jury found a verdict of guilty, and on May 10th, when defendant appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench to receive judgment, he was fined one shilling and discharged.  On June 24th the following advertisement was published: “Ned Painter having been subjected to the expense of wanton and persecuting litigation, his friends intend giving him a benefit at the Pantheon, Royal Victoria Gardens, on which occasion the Stars of the Fancy have resolved to rally round and support an old and tried veteran of the Prize Ring.  Among the prominent professors of the Pugilistic Art who will appear are Tom Spring, Champion of England, and Ben Caunt, the modern champion.”

7.—Mr. Cobden, M.P., Col. Thompson, and Mr. Moore, representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League, addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew’s Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Tillett.  A body of Chartists created some disorder.  On the 8th a meeting of farmers “of the most complete party complexion” took place at the Hall, when Mr. A. Morse, of Swaffham, “author of one of the prize essays of the League,” presided, and addresses were delivered by Mr. Cobden and his friends.  The League at this date was actively promulgating its principles in all parts of the county.

15.—The ship Phya sailed from Lynn for Quebec, with emigrants.  “Whilst the population keeps increasing, and machinery keeps lessening the demand for manual labour, many thousands must seek to provide for themselves and families in distant regions.”

20.—The construction of the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway commenced on this date on the Postwick Hall Farm (in the occupation of Mr. Gillett), near Thorpe Asylum.  The excavation of the New Cut from Trowse Hythe to Whitlingham Reach was begun on May 6th.  In October an engine with ballast waggons was running between Reedham and Yarmouth; and in November another engine appeared on the Postwick end of the line.  “Its marvellous facility in whirling along any number of loaded waggons elicited exclamations of astonishment from the many hundreds of Norwich people who went out to see it.”  (See April 12th, 1844.)

—In the waistband of the trousers of a notorious housebreaker, named James Fisk, who was apprehended at Surlingham on this date, “was found sewed up the Lord’s Prayer, written backwards, which he carried about with him as a fancied protection against the power of human law.”

—The marriage of the Earl of Leicester and Miss Whitbread, daughter of Mr. S. C. Whitbread, at Cardington church, Bedfordshire, was celebrated with great rejoicings at Wells-next-the-Sea, where 800 school children were entertained, and 1,400 of the poor inhabitants had dinner on the Buttlands.

21.—At Norwich Theatre was performed a new drama, entitled, “Mokanna, or the Veiled Prophet of Khorassan,” written by Mr. William Cooper, barrister, and originally produced at Lynn Theatre.  An anonymous handbill, printed by J. Fletcher, Upper Haymarket, Norwich, was afterwards circulated, describing the play as a “barefaced exhibition of profligacy,” and calling upon the citizens to denounce it.  The strictures were grossly unfair.

25.—The foundation-stone of St. Mark’s church, Lakenham, was laid by the Very Rev. Dean Pellew.  The architect was Mr. John Brown, and the builder Mr. James Worman.  The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on September 24th, 1844.

28.—The two troops of the 13th Light Dragoons marched from Norwich Barracks for Hounslow.  They were replaced on May 22nd by the Scots Greys, commanded by Col. Clarke.  Mainly through the influence of the Duke of Wellington and the Marquis of Douro, the headquarters of the regiment were stationed at Norwich.

4.—Business was entirely suspended in Norwich on the occasion of the funeral of H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex.  The Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, and afterwards assembled at the Guildhall and adopted addresses of sympathy.

6.—At the Norwich Police Court, a woman named Kedge complained to the magistrates that another woman, of the name of Clarke, had bewitched her “by sending her and her children a vast number of vermin.”  Clarke replied that Mrs. Kedge had harboured her (Mrs. Clarke’s) husband, and had given her a small piece of paper, whereon was very small writing.  It was found to be the Lord’s Prayer.  Mrs. Kedge acknowledged having given this to Mrs. Clarke, and said it would “prevent her from doing her further injury, for when she had herself put it in defendant’s hands, all danger from witchery was over.”

13.*—“One day last week a steam coach, constructed on a new principle, was tried at Witton, on the Yarmouth road, before a large concourse of spectators, but although the steam was put on, the coach would not move an inch.  When pushed it proceeded a short distance and stopped.  The experimenters at last lifted the coach from the road, when the wheels went round with alarming velocity.”  On May 27th the carriage was advertised for sale by private contract, by Mr. Joseph Emmerson Bane, at the King’s Head Inn, Blofield.

—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Major Loftus, commenced their annual eight days’ training at Fakenham.

17.—The inhabitants residing in the vicinity of Duke’s Palace Bridge memorialised the Norwich Town Council to take the necessary steps to free the bridge from toll.

18.—Died at his residence in Union Street, South Lynn, Mr. Peter Lewis Dacheux, an immigrant from France, aged 83.  “He had resided at Lynn for many years, and had long officiated as Roman Catholic priest in that town.  He was a schoolfellow of Bonaparte, and in his boyish days had many a scuffle with that celebrated personage.”

23.—Mr. Braham, assisted by his son and pupil, Mr. Charles Braham, gave a concert at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich.

JUNE.

13.—The Norwich Town Council decided, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, to memorialise the House of Commons in favour of Mr. Rowland Hill’s scheme of penny postage.

14.—Norwich Theatre was re-opened for a limited number of nights at the close of the regular season, when “The Tempest” was produced from the original text, with Miss Grant as Ariel, and Miss Vining as Miranda.  On the occasion of her benefit, on June 27th, Miss Grant took the part of Tom Tug, in “The Waterman.”

16.—For nearly three hours “the sun was surrounded by a bright and beautiful halo, whilst several others appeared in its vicinity, intersecting the main one in several directions.”  A similar appearance was observed in the summer of 1826.

JULY.

1.—The fares by the Royal Norwich mail from the Star, Haymarket, to the Belle Sauvage, Ludgate Hill, were reduced from this date to 16s. inside and 8s. outside.

4.—Mr. Charles Gill and Miss Vining, two popular performers with the Norwich Company, eloped from the city.  “The attachment between the parties has been of long standing, but it was opposed by the young lady’s friends, on account of the disparity of years.”  Mr. and Mrs. Gill appeared at Yarmouth Theatre on September 8th.

—Died at North Walsham, Captain Thomas Withers, R.N., aged 73.  He entered the service in 1793, joined Nelson in the Agamemnon, which formed part of Lord Hood’s fleet at the occupation of Toulon, and took part in the reduction of Bastia and Calvi, and in the several actions in which the ship was engaged.  In 1796 he joined the Captain, and in the following year, in the battle off Cape St. Vincent, had the distinguished honour of commanding the division which boarded the San Nicolas, and from that ship the San Josef.  He was made lieutenant next day, and soon after appointed to the Terrible, under the command of Sir Richard Bickerton, and served during the expedition against the French in Egypt.  In April, 1803, he was appointed to the command of the Expedition (44 guns), and was chiefly engaged in the Mediterranean until 1804.  In 1805 he accepted employment under the Transport Board, and in 1809 received post rank.

8.—A whirlwind occurred at Blakeney.  In its course it carried away several yards of a wall two feet thick, took from some smacks the hatchings, which were blown upon the marshes, and blew a man off the seat of a threshing machine.  The stable at the White Horse was unroofed, and a quantity of Mr. Temple’s hay was blown to the distance of a mile.

19.—A young man named Robert Smithson “wagered that he would run over the nine bridges in Norwich in twenty-five minutes.”  He performed the distance, nearly four miles, in twenty-two minutes.

24.—Died at Shotley Parsonage, Ipswich, aged 91, the Rev. Samuel Forster, D.D., formerly head-master of Norwich Free Grammar School.  On resigning, in 1811, Dr. Forster became private tutor to the son of the Marquis of Bristol.  Sir Edward Berry, Nelson’s flag captain at the Battle of the Nile, married the doctor’s eldest daughter.

29.*—“In the melancholy list of passengers on board the Pegasus, lost off the Fern Islands on July 19th, we are sorry to observe the name of Mr. Elton, for many years a favourite tragedian in the Norwich Company, and latterly holding a most respectable station on the London boards.”

—The Assize week performances at Norwich Theatre opened with the appearance of Miss Montague, of Drury Lane, as Juliet.  On July 31st Miss Clara Novello, Miss Sybella Novello, Mr. Manvers, and Mr. Stretton, of Drury Lane, performed in Belleni’s opera, “Norma,” and in “Acis and Galatea”; and on August 7th Madame Céleste and Mr. Webster commenced a four nights’ engagement in “St. Mary’s Eve,” “The Woman Hater,” and “The French Spy.”

AUGUST.

6.—Died at Gaywood, aged 70, Mr. Thomas Marsters, for many years the representative at Lynn of the Norfolk Chronicle.  “He was extensively read in the poets and classics, and his taste for the drama induced him, when he resided at Gaywood Hall, to become lessee of Lynn Theatre, on the boards of which he occasionally performed as an amateur.”

16.—The left wing of the Cavalry Barracks at Norwich was destroyed by a fire which originated in the forage barn.  The men of the Scots Greys succeeded in saving the remainder of the buildings.

31.—Died at Stisted Hall, Essex, aged 87, Mr. Charles Savill Onley, bencher of the Middle Temple.  He was third son of Mr. Robert Harvey, merchant and banker, of Norwich, by Judith, daughter of Capt. Onley, R.N.  Mr. Onley (then Mr. Charles Harvey) was called to the Bar on November 24th, 1790.  In 1783 he was elected Steward, and in 1801 Recorder, of Norwich.  In 1804 his portrait was painted by Lawrence, at the expense of the Corporation, and hung in St. Andrew’s Hall.  In 1812 he was returned to Parliament, and at the dissolution in 1818 retired from the representation of the city, but sat for Carlow from 1820 to 1826.  It was in December, 1822, that he took the name of Savill Onley, on the death of his maternal uncle, the Rev. Charles Onley, through whom he came to the possession of a fine estate in Essex, besides a large personal property.  He resigned his Recordership in 1826.  He was lieutenant-colonel of Col. Patteson’s battalion of Norwich Volunteers, enrolled in 1808 as a regiment of Local Militia.  He married, first, Sarah, daughter of Mr. J. Haynes, by whom he had issue one son, Onley Savill Onley, who married his cousin Caroline, daughter of Mr. John Harvey, of Thorpe; and two daughters, Sarah, married to Mr. William Harvey, and Judith, to Mr. Charles Turner.  Mrs. Harvey died in 1800, and he married, secondly, Charlotte, sister of his former wife.

SEPTEMBER.

7.—Father Mathew attended a temperance festival at Norwich.  He addressed a meeting on St. Martin-at-Palace Plain in the morning, and a public gathering at St. Andrew’s Hall in the evening, at which the Lord Bishop and Mr. J. J. Gurney were present.  On the 8th Father Mathew, from twelve to six o’clock, “administered the pledge to all who cared to receive it.”  The Norfolk Chronicle observed: “We cannot but feel that the members of the Church of England are pledged to temperance already, and have therefore no necessity to repeat the pledge before a Romish priest.”

11.—The Earl of Leicester laid the foundation-stone of the new quay at Wells-next-the-Sea.

16.—A platform was erected on the summit of the spire of Norwich Cathedral by a party of Sappers and Miners, to support an observatory for the purpose of the trigonometrical survey then being made throughout the kingdom, by order of the Board of Ordnance.

23.*—“Died, lately, aged 101, Mr. Robert Holmes, of St. Augustine’s, Norwich.”

27.—Died at Ramsgate, Lieut.-General Beevor.  He was the last surviving son of Mr. James Beevor, of Norwich.  He served in Flanders in the campaigns of 1793–4–5; in 1801–2 he was actively employed in Egypt, and he took part in the protracted operations in the Peninsula and Portugal.

2.—Mrs. Fitzwilliam, of Covent Garden Theatre, commenced a six nights’ engagement at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.  She was described as the first comic actress of the day and a most accomplished vocalist.  On the 7th Mrs. Fitzwilliam was joined by Mr. Buckstone, of the Haymarket Theatre, with whom she appeared in “My Tender Charge” and “Foreign Airs and Native Graces.”

14.—In a case before the county justices at the Shirehall, Norwich, in which the keeper of Hellesdon toll-bar was summoned for unlawfully taking toll in respect of a vehicle called a “wheel machine,” interesting particulars were given of the contrivance, which belonged to a Norwich mechanic named Matthew Fish.  It was described as “only a barrow worked by the feet, and not propelled by machinery.”  The carriage was shown outside the Court, and “appeared to be a very ingenious machine, which could be worked at the rate of ten miles an hour on a level road.”  It had three wheels and two levers.  Mr. Repton, the clerk to the turnpike trustees, urged that the narrow wheels cut up the road more than those of heavy carriages, and that such contrivances for evading toll and the keeping of horses were increasing.  These carriages were considered a nuisance on the roads, no horses liked to pass them, and the Act laid a heavy toll upon them to prevent them running on any turnpike at all.  The matter was ultimately settled without a conviction.

16.—Carter, the “Lion King,” appeared at Norwich Theatre with his trained lions, &c., in a drama founded on the adventures of Mungo Park.  “The submissive bearing with which they crouched to the lash and the utter want of animation and spirit which they exhibited, divested the exhibition of all sense of danger.”

17.—A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, several vessels were driven ashore, and five lives were lost off Bacton.

23.—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry paraded at East Dereham and received from the Lord Lieutenant of the county a standard, in commemoration of the honour conferred upon it by Prince Albert, in allowing the corps to be called after his name.  “The helmets, which formerly were fronted with the Maltese Cross, now exhibit the Royal Arms.”

NOVEMBER.

9.—Mr. Freeman was elected Mayor, and Mr. George Lovick Coleman appointed Sheriff of Norwich.

25.—Mr. Murray announced the publication of “The Correspondence of William Taylor of Norwich (author of ‘English Synonyms’) with Robert Southey, Esq., from 1791 to 1830, with a memoir of his life and works,” by J. W. Robberds.

DECEMBER.

9.—The first person in Norwich to advertise “patent photographic portraits” was Mr. Beard, of the Royal Bazaar.  These likenesses were stated to be “surprisingly correct,” and severe chemical tests proved that they would “last to infinity.”  The prices ranged from one to two guineas.

—Mr. George Pinson, Governor of Gressenhall Workhouse, was selected by the visiting justices Governor of the County Gaol at Norwich Castle, in succession to Mr. Johnson, resigned.

15.—Died in St. Peter Southgate, Norwich, John Smith, gardener, aged 102.

16.—The improvement of Briggs’ Street, Norwich, was completed, and the Paving Commissioners were paid £700 by the trustees of the D’Oyley fund.

19.—Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, widow of General Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, and daughter and sole heiress of Richard Warburton Lytton, of Knebworth Park, Herts.  “She was mother of the Ambassador at Madrid, of Sir Edward, who succeeds to the estates, and of Mr. W. L. Bulwer, of Heydon Hall.  The literary tastes and accomplishments of Mrs. Bulwer Lytton may have had an influence in early life upon her son’s mind.  Many poems of hers circulated amongst her immediate friends are full of feeling and grace.”

26.—The report on the Christmas trade at Norwich stated that the stage coaches conveyed 3,036 hampers of game and poultry to London.  Sykes’ waggons in five days conveyed to the Metropolitan market 68 tons of meat, game, and poultry, from Norfolk and Suffolk.

—For the first time for many years, Norwich Theatre opened on Boxing Day.  The programme included “The Stranger,” “Cherry Bounce,” and the pantomime “Harlequin Baron Munchausen.”  The other Christmas attractions were Batty’s Equestrian Company at the Pantheon, Victoria Gardens, and Wombwell’s Menagerie on the Castle Meadow.

1844.

JANUARY.

13.—Mr. H. J. Wallack, of Drury Lane Theatre, formerly a member of the Norwich circuit, and Mrs. Wallack, commenced an operatic engagement at Norwich Theatre, in the “Barber of Seville.”

FEBRUARY.

3.—In the Court of Exchequer, before Lord Abinger and a special jury, an information was heard against three persons named Phillips, of Swanton Abbot, for the recovery of penalties for a violation of the Excise laws by means of illicit distillation.  The jury returned a verdict of guilty.  It was stated that defendants had rendered themselves liable to penalties amounting to £12,000, but the Crown would be satisfied with a verdict for one penalty of £200, which, trebled, amounted to £600.  Judgment was then entered for the last-named sum.

—Permission was given by the authorities of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for the formation of a hospital museum, on the understanding that there should be no alienation of the funds of the institution.  On October 19th it was reported to the Governors that the museum had been completed, and an inscription on vellum was voted to Mr. William Dalrymple, in grateful acknowledgment of his donation of his entire collection in anatomy and pathology, and to Mr. J. G. Crosse for his valuable contributions.  (See September 10th, 1845.)

7.—John Franklin, “known by the name of Bill Downey, the celebrated Southtown pedestrian,” for a wager of £10 walked from the Duke’s Head Inn, the Quay, Yarmouth, to the Shirehall, Norwich, and back, in eleven and a half hours.

8.—A meeting was held at North Walsham, for the purpose of forming a Protection Association against the attacks of the Anti-Corn Law League.  Similar associations were formed in other parts of the county, and about fifty petitions were sent to Parliament, praying that no alteration be made in the state of the law.

10.*—“A society for insurance against damages by hail has been established in Norwich, an influential body of gentlemen having accepted the office of directors, and numerous parties have intimated their intention to take advantage of this institution.”

13.—A new historical play, entitled, “Zopyrus, the Hero of Persia,” by Mr. William Cooper, barrister, of Norwich, was produced for the first time at Norwich, Theatre.

20.—It was announced in the “London Gazette” that Sir E. L. Bulwer, Bart., in compliance with a direction contained in the will of his late mother, Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, of Knebworth, would thereafter use the surname of Lytton in addition to and after that of Bulwer, and also bear the arms of Lytton quarterly in the first quarter with his own family arms.

26.—An information was laid before the Docking magistrates by Robert Bullock, a common informer, against Mr. William Shearman, of Burnham, under 52 Geo. III., cap. 93, for having, on November 17th, 1843, “assisted Mr. Charles Edward Overman and 20 other persons in the taking of a hare by means of two greyhounds, the said act of assisting not being done in the company or presence and for the use of any person who had then duly obtained a certificate in his own right and who then and there used his own dogs for the taking of the said hare,” whereby he rendered himself liable to a penalty of £20.  Evidence was adduced showing that the dogs which ran at the West Burnham Coursing Meeting, where the alleged offence took place, belonged to qualified persons.  The Bench recorded a conviction, against which the defendant appealed, at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, held at Norwich on March 13th.  The Court quashed the conviction.  Twenty other cases depended upon the result of this appeal.

—Died in London, aged 73, Mr. John Wright.  He was a native of Norwich, and going early in life to the Metropolis, where he had the superintendence of Hookham’s Reading Rooms, in Old Bond Street, he became acquainted with many of the leading political and literary characters of the day, by whose support he entered into business as a publisher, in Piccadilly.  He was the particular friend of Gifford, the poet, and the rencontre between that individual and Peter Pindar took place at Wright’s house.  He was afterwards connected with Cobbett in the publication of the “Weekly Register,” but this terminated in a lawsuit, in which the latter gained little credit.  Literary pursuits of various kinds occupied Mr. Wright’s attention for the remainder of his life, and his assistance was much sought after by publishers and others, in affording which and in attendance at the House of Commons he generally spent his time.  He was supposed to have had the superintendence and correction of “Hansard’s Debates.”

28.—Died at Ingolville, near Havre, Mr. John Morse, formerly of Sprowston.  He was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant of the county, and served the office of High Sheriff in 1807.  His remains were interred at Sprowston, on March 12th.

MARCH.

5.—The Norwich Court of Guardians passed a series of resolutions on the new Poor Law Amendment Bill, expressing regret that the measure contained a clause extending the powers of the Poor Law Commissioners to places hitherto governed by local Acts of Parliament, and thereby to a considerable extent repealed those Acts.

16.*—“Ministers connected with the party which seceded last May from the Scotch Church have visited Norwich this week, for the purpose of detailing their version of the differences between them and the Presbyterian Establishment and of raising ‘siller’ to enable them to carry on their system.”

25.—Lord Chief Baron Abinger and Mr. Justice Patteson, Judges of Assize, arrived at Norwich.  Lord Abinger, on the 30th, received a deputation of the principal merchants of the city, who represented to him the unfairness and expense attending the mode of conducting bankruptcy proceedings.  On April 1st his lordship was taken suddenly ill at Bury St. Edmund’s, the next town on the Assize circuit, and on April 7th he died.  His lordship’s political connection with Norwich commenced in 1832.  As Sir James Scarlett he was returned with Lord Stormont in 1833 a member for the city, and on December 15th received the honorary freedom.  When Sir Robert Peel was unexpectedly called upon to form a Conservative ministry, the office of Chief Baron was conferred upon Sir James Scarlett, who was called to the House of Lords by the title of Baron Abinger, of Abinger, in the county of Surrey, and of the city of Norwich.

30.—Died, aged 81, at Wymondham, Mr. John Cullyer.  “He was an excellent arithmetician, and the author of a scientific work entitled, ‘The Gentleman’s and Farmer’s Assistant,’ containing tables for the measurement of land, &c.”

APRIL.

4.—Hales, the Norfolk giant, was exhibited at Tombland Fair.  He was 8 ft. in height, and weighed 33 stones.

8.—Mrs. Yates and Mr. O. Smith appeared at Norwich Theatre in the “Christmas Carol,” produced under the superintendence of its adaptor, Mr. Edward Stirling, stage manager of the Adelphi Theatre.  Mrs. Yates was a granddaughter of Mr. Brunton, many years manager of the Norwich circuit.

11.—The Norwich Town Council completed the arrangements respecting the purchase by the Corporation of the Foundry Bridge tolls, and empowered the City Committee to negotiate for the borrowing of £8,000 for the purpose.  The new iron bridge which replaced the old wooden structure was opened for traffic on June 29th.  It was erected by Messrs. Bradley and Co., of Wakefield, from designs by Mr. C. D. Atkinson, of the same town, at the cost of £800.

12.—Major-General Pasley, Government Inspector, accompanied by the Lord Bishop of Norwich, and several of the directors, proceeded in “a train of carriages” from the Norwich terminus to Yarmouth by the new Yarmouth and Norwich Railway.  This was the first train that ran out of the city, and its departure was witnessed by thousands of the inhabitants.  (See April 30.)

20.—The Scots Greys, during the week ending this date, marched from the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, en route to Edinburgh.

“This aged clerk, long ere he died,
His coffin had and placed by his bedside;
His neighbours all well know the truth is spoke—
’Twas made of Mr. John Perry’s best oak;
His old friend Death just touch’d him with his spear
And in pure kindness laid him quietly here.

“The upper part of the stone contains the name, with blanks for cutting age, &c., when the time of his dissolution shall take place.”

24.—Died at Boyland Hall, aged 66, the Hon. Frederick Paul Irby, C.B., Rear-Admiral of the White.  He was born April 18th, 1779, and was second son of the second Baron Boston.  He entered the Navy in 1791, was present in Lord Howe’s action on June 1st, 1793, at Camperdown under Lord Duncan, and afterwards saw much active service.  He was severely wounded in an action fought with a French frigate off the Isle of Los, on the coast of Guinea.

—Died in Julian Place, Norwich, aged 38, Mr. Thomas Wiggins.  “He had been proprietor of and a celebrated whip on the Phenomena coach from Norwich to London for several years, and was much respected by all for his skill as a coachman.”

MAY.

4.*—“Last week 100 stand of arms were received at our barracks for the Norwich Enrolled Pensioners.  The dress consists of a peaked, glazed cap, with scarlet band and star in front, a blue frock coat, similar to those worn by the French infantry, with scarlet epaulettes edged with brass, and dark mixture trousers with broad red stripes.  Sergeants will be each armed with a light carbine and cutlass.  The whole will be called out occasionally for exercise and drill.”

6.—A troop of the 4th Light Dragoons arrived at Norwich.

—The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 1,277 persons at the Cathedral.

18.—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry commenced eight days’ permanent duty at Holt.

20.—Mr. Govett, formerly assistant minister at St. Stephen’s church, Norwich, “whose eccentricities were often the cause of great pain to many members of the congregation,” was baptised at Mr. Brock’s chapel, “with six young ladies whom he had persuaded unhappily to follow his errors.”

JUNE.

1.—The season terminated at Norwich Theatre.  The manager (Mr. G. Smith) said, in the course of his customary address: “Having been for nearly 30 years a member of the company, I am most reluctantly compelled to chronicle the one now closing as the very worst season within my recollection.”

19.—Died at Knapton, aged 59, Mr. Jeffreson Mills, Commander R.N.  He served from 1799 until the Peace in 1815.  “During his career he assisted at the capture of 26 line of battleships, 18 frigates, and 21 sloops of war and privateers.  He was the author of a masterly vindication of Lord Nelson’s proceedings in the Bay of Naples.”

22.*—“The fatal ball by which Nelson received his death wound, and which was in the possession of the late Sir W. Beatty, M.D., R.N., at his death came into possession of Col. Beatty, R.M., and his brother, Mr. Vincent Beatty, ci-devant captain of the late 24th Light Dragoons, by whom it has been presented to her Majesty, and most graciously received.  The ball, with the particles of the coat and epaulette which were forced into the body, is neatly and elegantly set within a crystal case, which is appropriately mounted with a double cable coiled around its circumference.  It opens like a watch.”

24.—Madame Vestris and Mr. Charles Mathews commenced a short engagement at Norwich Theatre, in “Patter versus Clatter,” “Loan of a Lover,” “Grist to the Mill,” and “Follies of a Night.”

JULY.

22.—Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, whither she had retired for her accouchement, Anne Amelia Dowager Countess of Leicester, wife of the Right Hon. Ed. Ellice, M.P. for Coventry.  The third daughter of the Earl and Countess of Albemarle, and born on June 16th, 1803, she married, on February 26th, 1822, Mr. Thomas William Coke, of Holkham, who was created Earl of Leicester in 1837, and died in 1842.  Her ladyship married Mr. Ellice on October 25th, 1843.

25.—A cricket match, Marylebone Club and Ground against Norfolk with Fuller Pilch, commenced at Lord’s.  Norfolk, 60-111; Marylebone, 79-71.  The return match commenced at Swaffham on Sept. 5th.  Marylebone, 19-32; Norfolk, 45-6.

29.—The celebrated dwarf, Tom Thumb (Charles Stratton), made his first appearance in Norwich at the Theatre Royal, where he was introduced by Mr. Barnum, the equally famous showman.

30.—Mr. Justice Williams, in charging the Grand Jury at the Norfolk Assizes, dwelt upon the alarming increase of incendiarism.

AUGUST.

1.—Madame Céleste and Mr. Webster commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre.  One of the features of the entertainment was the dancing of “le Polka.”  This dance, which was introduced for the first time in Norwich, was described as “a mixture of the waltz and the cracovienne, and extremely pretty when danced well.”  All the local dancing masters advertised it, and it gave fresh life and animation to the ball rooms.  “Nothing was more wearisome,” it was said, “than the eternal first set of quadrilles, and comparatively few joined in the waltz; in the polka we have a dance full of life, elegant in its figures, and with the additional charm of being accompanied by music of the most attractive character.”  At the Norwich Sessions Ball, on Sept. 16th, it was a great attraction; Mr. Frank Noverre gave a “polka ball” at the Assembly Rooms on December 2nd; and at Miss Bidwell’s ball, at the same place, on December 5th, “these ladies danced the polka in character, giving a good delineation of Madame Céleste and Mr. Webster.”

—A sculling match took place between Messrs. Corby and Wigham, from the New Cut, Whitlingham, to Mutford Lock and back, a distance of 60 miles, for £25 a side.  Corby, the winner, rowed the distance in 10 hrs. 21 mins., the whole of the return journey being against a strong wind and tide.  Wigham gave up at Buckenham.

2.—At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, William Frost, aged 35, was indicted for having, on April 8th, at Whitwell, murdered his four children, whose ages ranged from five years to ten weeks, by striking them on the head with a hammer.  Mr. W. P. Nichols, Mr. G. W. W. Firth, and Mr. Crosse testified to the insanity of the prisoner, against whom a verdict of not guilty was returned, and he was ordered to be confined in the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, St. George’s Fields, London.

—At the Norfolk and Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Alderson, the action, Cory v. the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway Company, was heard.  It was an action sent down from the Vice-Chancellor’s Court, in which the plaintiff sought to restrain the defendants from carrying passengers from their railway terminus across the Bure or Yare to Great Yarmouth, on the ground that the right of the plaintiff as proprietor of the ancient ferry and of the suspension bridge which supplied its place, was thereby infringed.  At the suggestion of the Judge, an agreement was arrived at between the parties.  (See May 2nd, 1845.)