Norfolk Annals, Vol. 1 / A Chronological Record of Remarkable Events in the Nineteeth Century

by Charles Mackie

1804.

JANUARY.

3.—The Old Buckenham Volunteers marched into Norwich from Yarmouth, and next day proceeded to their homes. The corps numbered 5 officers and 125 non-commissioned officers and privates.

—Capt. Dickens, of the Shropshire Militia, “undertook for a considerable wager to walk from the Angel at Yarmouth to the Angel at Norwich and back again (47 miles) in twelve hours, which he performed with apparent ease in eleven hours and a half.”

7.—Died, at Colchester, aged 65, Sir William Gordon, Bart., captain in the West Norfolk Militia, and for many years a resident in Norwich.

12.—A meeting was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, as to the depressed state of the corn trade. It was resolved to petition Parliament on the subject. (The prices quoted at this date were:—Wheat, 14s. to 26s.; barley, 9s. 6d. to 10s.; oats, 9s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per coomb.)

13.—The Wymondham troop of Yeomanry Cavalry, commanded by Capt. the Hon. Wm. Wodehouse, attended at Kimberley and “thanked Lady Wodehouse for the colours lately presented by her ladyship, when they had the honour of dining with the family.”

14.—The colours of the Norwich Juvenile Regiment of Infantry were presented to them by “a young lady of the city.” (This was a cadet corps, armed with dummy muskets and tin bayonets.)

14.*—(Advt.) “The Norwich and Yarmouth Volunteer Coach leaves the Bell Inn, Hog Hill, every morning at eight o’clock, to the Wrestlers Inn, Great Yarmouth, and returns at four o’clock.”

18.—The City of Norwich Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, Lieut.-Col. Harvey, were presented with colours by the Mayor and Corporation. The colours were consecrated by the Rev. E. S. Thurlow, Prebendary of Norwich, and handed to the colonel by the Mayor (Mr. John Morse); and the King’s and regimental standards were delivered to the ensigns. The artillery, on Castle Hill, fired salutes, and the regiment discharged three volleys in the Market Place in the presence of an immense crowd.

22.—This day (Sunday) John Baker, a private in the Loddon Volunteers, was dismissed, “with every mark of ignominy at the head of the company, for refusing to take the oath of allegiance to his Majesty. His arms and accoutrements, together with the Volunteer clothing, were stripped off on parade, much to the satisfaction of the whole corps.”

31.—A baker of Norwich, named Winter, undertook, for a wager of £40, to carry 6s. worth of bread in a basket from Norwich to Yarmouth within six hours. He accomplished his task in 5 hours 35 minutes.

Mr. T. W. Coke was this month promoted to be lieutenant-colonel of the Western Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry; Mr. Hammond Alpe to be lieutenant-colonel of the Eastern Regiment; and Mr. John Smyth to be lieutenant-colonel of the Midland Regiment.

The several companies of Norfolk Volunteer Infantry were this month formed into battalions as follow:—1st (Lynn), Lieut.-Col. E. Everard; 2nd (Wells, &c.), Lieut.-Col. Francis Bedingfeld; 3rd (not then appointed); 4th (Cromer, &c.), Lieut.-Col. the Right Hon. Wm. Windham; 5th (Aylsham, &c.), Lieut.-Col. Thomas Hutton (afterwards Sir Thomas Preston, Bart.); 6th (Yarmouth), Lieut.-Col. Wm Gould; 7th (Norwich), Lieut.-Col. Harvey; 8th (Loddon, &c.), Lieut.-Col.

John Kerrich; 9th (Diss, &c.), Lieut.-Col. T. J. Woodward; 10th (Swaffham, &c.), Lieut.-Col. R. W. Ottley; 11th (Freebridge Lynn, &c.), Lieut.-Col. A. Hamond.

300 pikes were sent to Norwich for the use of the special constables, who were called out to receive instruction in the pike exercise.

Flag staffs were placed at Rainham Hall, Holkham Hall, and Houghton Hall. The red flag was only to be hoisted in case of actual invasion or on the appearance of an enemy on the coast.

The ladies of Lynn inaugurated a movement for making flannel underclothing for the use of the men of the Lynn Volunteers.

FEBRUARY.

4.—The Cromer Sea Fencibles were practising with canister and grape shot upon the beach, when a ball struck Capt. Tremlett, R.N., on the foot, and shattered the leg of Mr. John Smith, so as to render immediate amputation necessary. A public subscription, amounting to £500, was made for Mr. Smith.

21.—Died, at Long Stratton, Mrs. Everitt, a Quaker, who had attained her one hundredth year. Lineally descended from her and living at the time were 77 children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

27.—Colours were presented to the East Dereham troop of Yeomanry Cavalry by Mrs. Smyth, on behalf of the ladies of the town and neighbourhood. The troop, accompanied by Capt. Leeder’s corps of infantry, attended service at the parish church, where the colours were “consecrated by prayer,” and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Geo. Preston, curate. A dinner followed at the King’s Arms Inn.

The Corporation of Norwich this month ordered an iron bridge to be erected at St. Michael’s Coslany. It was opened on November 15th.

MARCH.

1.—The birthday of the Marquis Townshend was celebrated at Fakenham by a dinner to the Norfolk Rangers.

27.—Lieut.-General Sir James Craig inspected the batteries and works from Holt to Cromer. Next day he reviewed, near Norwich, the 24th Regiment of Foot (Col. Macdonald); the detachment of Royal Artillery under Capt. Fyers; and two troops of the 1st Dragoons (Capt. Craven).

APRIL.

4.—Arrived at Yarmouth, the Antelope, cruiser brig, Commodore Sir Sidney Smith, and the Prince of Wales cutter, from the Flushing station. Some boats sent out by Sir Sidney made an unsuccessful attempt to cut out an armed brig near the Scaw. The boats were

attacked by an armed schooner, and obliged to abandon their enterprise, with the loss of five killed and ten wounded.

10.—Died, aged 12, Lord Viscount Bury, eldest son of the Earl of Albemarle.

11.—Commodore Sir Sidney Smith arrived at Norwich from Yarmouth, proceeded next day on a tour of the county, and returned to Yarmouth on the 13th.

21.—James Airton was publicly whipped in Norwich Market Place for stealing a box coat from the coach-house of Mr. Wm. Harvey.

25.—The Scipio of North Shields, Capt. Robinson, coal laden, was attacked by a sloop-rigged privateer four miles from Cromer. A sharp action, lasting three quarters of an hour, ensued, when the privateer sheered off. Capt. Robinson was wounded in the foot by a musket ball, and the vessel, whose sails and rigging were very much cut, was taken by the crew to Yarmouth Roads, where medical assistance was rendered to Capt. Robinson on board the Irresistible.

The portrait, painted by Hoppner, of the Right Hon. William Windham was this month placed in St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. It was afterwards engraved in mezzotinto by Reynolds.

MAY.

2.—The gibbet on which the body of Payne (the pirate) was hung in chains, about 23 years previously, upon Yarmouth North Denes, was taken down by order of the Corporation. “A ludicrous circumstance happened the night it was erected. The different tackling being all adjusted previous to putting down the gibbet the day before Payne was hanged, some daring licencious bloods hoisted up a young ass by the hind legs, to the amusement of the spectators next morning, who could not but be surprised to find the gibbet so unexpectedly occupied. In consequence, however, the tackling became so entangled that until a young sailor undertook to climb the gibbet the prisoner could not be suspended.”

3.—The 2nd Battalion Norfolk Volunteer Infantry marched into Yarmouth for a fortnight’s permanent duty.

—A party of the Shropshire Militia marched into Norwich from Yarmouth with 84 French and Dutch prisoners, including five officers. The next day they proceeded on their route for Yaxley Barracks, under an escort provided by the 24th Regiment of Foot.

—An assembly of the Corporation of Norwich unanimously requested Mr. Charles Harvey, Recorder of the city, to sit for his portrait.

5.*—(Advt.) “There will be a regular main of cocks fought between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Norfolk, to show 21 mains for ten guineas the battle, and 50 the odd. The three turn outs for ten guineas a battle; to fight on the 23rd and 24th days of May at Mrs. Back’s, at the Bowling Green, Chapel Field. A pair of cocks to be pitted at six o’clock precisely. Feeders, Lamb for Norwich; Cox for Norfolk.”

7.—Col. Patteson’s Battalion of Volunteers (with the Riffle Corps attached), commanded by Capt. Cole; and the City of Norwich

Regiment of Volunteer Infantry were brigaded under the command of Lieut.-Col. Harvey, and, with the Royal Artillery under Capt. Fyers, were manœuvred at Hellesdon.

13.—Died, aged 76, the Rev. John Bruckner. He was invited to Norwich in 1750 as minister of the Walloon congregation, and during many years gave public and private lessons in French.

—The 10th Battalion Norfolk Volunteer Infantry marched into Lynn for ten days’ permanent duty.

14.—The birthday of the Right Hon. Wm Windham was celebrated by a numerous party of his friends at the Angel Inn, Norwich.

—The 1st Battalion of Norfolk Volunteer Infantry marched to Yarmouth for 14 days’ permanent duty.

21.—The 3rd Regiment of Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry marched into Norwich for five days’ drill, and on the 24th were inspected by Major-General Milner at Hellesdon.

22.—The Blickling and Gunton Riflemen, commanded by the Hon. Lieut.-Col. Harbord, marched into Norwich, and next day proceeded to Yarmouth for 14 days’ permanent duty.

24.—A tight rope performer, named Richer, appeared at Norwich Theatre, where his performances were “the theme of general admiration.”

25.—A general fast was observed. At Yarmouth, the Shropshire Militia and Volunteers on permanent duty, to the number of nearly 2,500, attended Divine service.

26.—The Helena war sloop, of 20 guns, Capt. Losack, was launched from Mr. John Preston’s dockyard at Yarmouth.

—The North Walsham Light Infantry marched into Yarmouth for 14 days’ permanent duty.

—The 7th Battalion of the Army of Reserve, to which 500 Norfolk and Suffolk men belonged, volunteered to extend their services and become a regiment of the line.

JUNE.

1.—The City of Norwich Battalion of Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Harvey, began one month’s permanent duty in Norwich. The battalion mustered 500, exclusive of officers.

4.—The King’s birthday was celebrated in Norwich. The detachment of Royal Artillery, the 24th Regiment of Foot, and the Norwich and Catton Volunteers, to the total number of 1,700, paraded on the Castle Hill, and fired a feu de joie. At Cromer, the Sea Fencibles, under Capt. Tremlett, R.N., three companies of the 4th Battalion Norfolk Volunteers, commanded by Lieut.-Col. George Windham, and the Volunteers of the Cromer battery had a sham fight at that place. Other Volunteer corps in the county held ceremonial parades.

7.—The water mills of Mr. Wm. Partridge, of North Walsham, were destroyed by fire.

11.—A sham fight, in which all the regular and auxiliary troops stationed in Norwich were engaged, took place at Bramerton. A

pontoon bridge, formed of wherries, was made use of in the course of the operations.

18.—The Corporation of Norwich granted the Blackfriars’ site in St. Andrew’s to the Court of Guardians for 200 years, the latter body having considered plans for improving the workhouse there for the accommodation of 800 persons.

—A motion by the Common Council of Norwich, to confer the freedom of the city upon Mr. R. Fellowes, M.P., and Mr. W. Smith, M.P., was, on a division, rejected by the aldermen by ten votes to eight.

—A motion was made in the Common Council to augment the sum of £100, allowed to the Mayor towards defraying the expenses of the Guild-day festival, but, as the revenue of Norwich did not justify the increase, it was not acceded to by the aldermen. The allowance of £100 was fixed 80 years previously.

25.—Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. “Mr. Coke won the sweepstakes, having estimated with more exactness than any of his competitors the weight both of wool and of carcase of the Southdown ewe slain on the occasion.” A drill for “scattering at the same time turnip seed and the dust of pounded oil cakes, believed to be the best adapted manure,” was exhibited.

30.—Several “battles” were fought on Yarmouth Denes by the soldiers of the Shropshire Regiment. In an encounter between a private and an officer’s servant, the former received injuries from which he died three hours after, and at the inquest a verdict of manslaughter was returned against his assailant.

Major-General Money was appointed to the staff of the Eastern District. The command consisted of 32,000 fully equipped and efficient men.

Under Mr. Pitt’s Defence Bill the quota for Norfolk was 1,813 men.

JULY.

1.—The City of Norwich Battalion of Volunteer Infantry terminated its permanent duty of 30 days. All ranks received the highest commendation of Major-General Milner and Lieut.-Col. Metzner.

3.—The malt kiln, with a granary and dwelling-house, at the new brewery of Messrs. Prentice and Co., King Street, Norwich, was destroyed by fire. The loss amounted to nearly £1,000.

5.—The East Harling magistrates fined a farmer 20s., for refusing to send his waggon to assist in taking the baggage of the East Suffolk Militia from Thetford to Downham, after having been summoned for that purpose.

6.—Mrs. Bennett, wife of an actor in the Norwich company, gave birth to triplets.

—A foot race was run by Lord Frederick Bentinck and the Hon. Edward Harbord for the sum of 100 guineas, between the second and third milestone on the Edgeware Road, London. Mr. Harbord won easily.

12.—Died, aged 82, at Walsingham Abbey, Mr. Henry Lee Warner, “in whom the gentleman and scholar were happily blended.” His fine estate at Walsingham was devastated by lawless persons, whom, from mistaken leniency, he would not molest. He rose late in the evening, breakfasted at midnight, and dined at four or five o’clock in the morning. He wore a gold-laced hat, and waistcoat, with deep slashworked sleeves and richly-embossed buttons, a deep chitterling of rich yellow lace, and curved-toed shoes, with oblong buckles. Mr. Lee Warner served the office of High Sheriff in 1782, and was lineally descended from John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, whose estates he possessed, as well as those of Sir James Howe, Bart., of Berwick, Wilts., and of Mr. Henry Lee, in Kent.

14.—Messrs. Fisher and Scragg’s Company of Comedians concluded a theatrical season at East Dereham. Fisher ultimately assumed the sole management of the company, which for many years performed in its own theatres on the Norfolk and Suffolk Circuit.

—At the Norwich Court of Mayoralty, Mr. Edward Manning, citizen and brazier, was elected Sheriff, but was discharged from office on paying the statutory fine of £80. The letter was afterwards sent to Mr. James Pastons, citizen and grocer, and to Mr. John Howard, citizen and baker, who were also excused from serving on both paying the same fine. The letter was then sent to Mr. James Watts, citizen and butcher, who received his discharge on payment of the fine. It was next sent to Mr. Cotton Wright, citizen and coomber, who verbally replied that “he had neither ate nor drank at the expense of the Corporation, and he should neither pay the fine nor serve the office.” Mr. Wright paid the fine, but denied that he had sent the message above quoted. Eventually Mr. John Wright, citizen and linen draper, accepted office.

16.—The Yarmouth Volunteer Infantry terminated a fortnight’s garrison duty there.

21.*—“The Norwich and Yarmouth water frolics last week offered the utmost gratification to lovers of aquatic exercises. Nearly twenty boats proceeded from Sandling’s Ferry to Postwick Grove and the Wood’s End, and, if the day proved unfavourable, mirth and good humour prevailed.” The Mayor of Yarmouth and several members of the Corporation proceeded in a wherry, “purposely fitted up and plentifully stored,” over Breydon. Several boats started for a silver cup, which was won by Mr. Lovell’s craft.

—A “farewell dejeune” was given at Cromer by Brigadier-General Sherbrooke, on his removal from the Holt district. Breakfast was served at the New Inn, and was attended, amongst others, by Col. and Mrs. Macdonald, Sir Jacob and Lady Astley, and Sir Edward and Lady Berry. Then the company adjourned to a barn, where dancing was kept up till five o’clock in the afternoon.

23.—A silver vase, which cost upwards of £700, was presented by Mr. Dusgate, in the name of the farmers of Norfolk, to Mr. T. W. Coke, “as a token of their esteem, for the liberality of his conduct as a landlord, and of their gratitude for the benefit of his example as a practical farmer and most valuable member of society.”

24.—The Mayor and magistrates of Norwich resolved to present a petition against the Corn Regulation Bill, which, however, was passed

and received the Royal assent. The Act was framed to govern the export and import of England and Scotland by one general average of each country, taking the aggregate average of the twelve maritime districts of England and four of Scotland as the rule. Exportation was prohibited when wheat was above 54s. and barley 31s. per quarter. When wheat was at or under 48s. a five shilling bounty was to be given per quarter on exportation, and when barley was at or under 28s., a bounty of 2s. 6d. a quarter. A duty of from 6d. to 2s. 6d. was to be imposed on foreign corn imported if the price was as high as 66s. or 63s.

25.—The East and West Regiments of Norfolk Militia marched from Colchester Barracks to Coxheath Camp, in Kent, which was reached on the 27th.

28.—A general meeting of Lieutenancy was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, to carry into execution an Act “for establishing and maintaining a permanent additional force for the defence of the realm, and to provide for augmenting his Majesty’s regular forces, and for the gradual reduction of the Militia of England.”

30.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Norwich, before Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, a prisoner, named John Heath, was charged with an offence committed at Great Melton, “but it being proved that the prisoner was both deaf and dumb by the visitation of God, the prosecution was stopped, but he was ordered to remain till the next Assizes.” (There is no further record of the case.)

Col. Bulwer, of Heydon, was this month appointed Brigadier-General in the Eastern District. On August 8th, he fixed his headquarters in Norwich, and reviewed the several corps of Volunteers in the city, and on September 1st it was announced that the general had been ordered to Liverpool, to take command of the Volunteers in that district.

AUGUST.

3.—A violent thunderstorm occurred. Several horses were killed by lightning in different parts of the county; mills and barns were damaged, and trees torn up by the roots.

4.—At the Norfolk and Norwich Assizes, the action, Palmer v. James and William Bloomfield, was tried. It was an action for trespass, and the plaintiff, a miller at Elsing, claimed £2,000 damages because the defendants, occupiers of land at Bylaugh, had cut away a large part of the bank of the river Wensum, whereby a great quantity of water escaped from the stream into an old river or drain, and he was deprived of its service for the working of his mill. The hearing lasted ten hours, and Lord Chief Justice Mansfield, who left the court at eleven p.m., received the jury at his lodgings, when they returned a verdict for the defendants. In the Court of Common Pleas, on November 12th, rule nisi was taken for a new trial, but there is no further record of the case.

9.—Died, aged 83, the Rev. Robert Potter, M.A., Prebendary of Norwich Cathedral, vicar of Lowestoft, and a translator of Æschylus and other writers of Greek tragedy.

13.—The troops in the Eastern district received orders to hold themselves in readiness to take the field at the shortest notice.

18.—The death was recorded, at Bungay, of Mr. Thomas Miller, who was born at Norwich on August 14th, 1731. He was an extensive collector of books and antiquities, and in 1795 issued the “Miller half-penny,” of which only twenty-three pieces were struck off.

22.—A threshing machine on an entirely new principle, invented by a Devonshire engineer, named Ball, was tested at Norwich. At Hethersett, on December 6th, in competition with another machine, built by John Brown, a Norwich mechanic, it thrashed in 50 minutes 40 seconds about 29½ coombs of barley, Brown’s machine breaking down. Mutual recriminations and threats of legal proceedings followed, but without result.

Night signals were established along the coast, and special constables sworn in at Yarmouth, Lynn, and elsewhere.

At the suggestion of Major-General Money, two companies of Sharpshooters were raised, and, with a company of Cavalry Pioneers, were attached to the East Norfolk Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry.

SEPTEMBER.

1.—What was considered to be a big bag of partridges was killed at Stiffkey by Lord James Townshend and Major Loftus, namely, 43 brace. At Cromer, Major Windham killed 25 brace.

4.—The Musquito brig, of 18 guns, was launched from Mr. John Preston’s yard at Yarmouth.

6.—The Cygnet sloop of war, of 18 guns, was launched from Mr. Nathaniel Palmer’s yard at Yarmouth.

13.—Excessive heat prevailed. On this day 80 degrees Fahr. was recorded.

15.*—“The Ipswich Mail now goes every day from the King’s Head Inn, Market Place, Norwich, to the Swan with two Necks, Lad Lane; and the Newmarket Mail to the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, daily. The mails arrive in London every morning at seven o’clock.”

24.—The East Norfolk Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry, with Capt. C. Brown’s Company of Cavalry Pioneers, and Capt. Pillan’s Company of Sharpshooters, encamped on Hellesdon Field, under the command of Major-General Money. A sham fight, in which were engaged the Norwich Volunteer Infantry, under Col. Harvey, the Norwich Rifles, and the Artillery detachment, under Capt. Fyers, followed.

Major-General Milner was appointed to the charge of the Volunteer Infantry of Norfolk, which were inspected by him during the month.

OCTOBER.

6.—Died, aged 60, Sir Wm. Kemp, Bart., of Briston. “He was riding on a hobby, from which he fell and expired immediately.”

13.—A report was published by Messrs. Kent and Crease, suggesting improvements to Wells harbour at the estimated cost of £30,000.

17.—Died, in St. Augustine’s, Norwich, Mr. John Thompson, aged 70. “He established himself the heir-at-law of the late John Tilyard, whose property had long been the subject of litigation, by obtaining a verdict in his favour at the summer Assizes for this county in 1792, whereby he became entitled to a valuable estate at Oby.”

20.—A musical farce, entitled “Dash, or who but he?” written by Mr. F. Lathom, of Norwich, was produced at Drury Lane. It was first performed at Norwich Theatre under the title of “Holiday Time, or the School Boy’s Frolic.”

26.—Died, aged 83, the Rev. John Peele, 38 years Upper Minister of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich. He was succeeded by the Rev. C J. Chapman.

—Races were held at Blickling Park. Events: A subscription purse for horses bred in Norfolk, the best of three one mile, heats; a subscription purse of £50, for the best of three two mile heats. Silver cup for the best of three two mile heats. A purse of five guineas for ponies, for the best of three two mile heats.

27.*—(Advt.) “The public are respectfully informed that the first number of a new weekly newspaper, entitled the ‘Yarmouth Herald, or Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex Advertiser,’ will be published on Saturday, November 10th, 1804, and sold by James Black, bookseller, Great Yarmouth.”

—*“Mrs. Tuthill, wife of Mr. John Tuthill, of Heigham, is the fortunate holder of a 16th of the £10,000 prize.”

28.—Died, at Ipswich, Lord Viscount Chedworth. His estate was valued at £500,000, of which sum he bequeathed £180,000 in legacies to various persons, some of whom were unknown to him personally. Mr. Thomas Penrice, of Yarmouth, received £20,000 legacy, and was also residuary legatee, by which he came into a property of at least £300,000. His lordship left £40,000 to his solicitor, and large amounts to actors and actresses in Norwich and London. A caveat was entered by the next of kin, and on July 5th, 1805, an action to contest the validity of the will was tried before Lord Ellenborough in the Court of King’s Bench. The jury confirmed the will, and gave a verdict accordingly. An application for a new trial was refused.

31.—At a public meeting at Cromer it was resolved to establish a lifeboat, and upwards of £500 was subscribed for the purpose.

NOVEMBER.

10.—A one hundred yards race took place in Gunton Park between the Hon. Edward Harbord and a well-known runner, named Wade, of Aylsham. Mr. Harbord won by about four yards.

11.*—“In pulling down the old workhouse in the Lower Close, Norwich, to improve the entrance to the Deanery, some very curious remains of an ancient Saxon Gothic building were discovered. The arches and capitals had been richly gilt and ornamented. The style of architecture appeared to be that in use about the reign of King Stephen.”

14.—Died, at Norton, near Lincoln, aged 74, the Right Hon. George, Earl of Buckinghamshire, Baron Hobart, of Blickling, in Norfolk. He

was succeeded in his title and estates by the Right Hon. Lord Hobart, formerly his Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for the Department of War and the Colonies.

16.—The Rev. J. Bowman was elected Under Minister at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, in succession to the Rev. C. J. Chapman.

22.—The Romney, of 50 guns, which sailed from Yarmouth Roads on the 18th, with bullocks and vegetables for the blockading fleet off the Texel, was lost in a gale on the South Haak Sand. All the officers and crew saved themselves on rafts, but were made prisoners by the Dutch. The officers were liberated on their parole by the Dutch Admiral Kikkert.

24.—The night coach from Norwich to Yarmouth was left near the King’s Arms, Burgh, in charge of a lad, when the horses broke away and galloped in the direction of Yarmouth. A Norwich tradesman, who was an inside passenger, climbed upon the box, succeeded in reaching the reins, which had become entangled upon the splinter bar, and stopped the animals.

26.—Ninety-eight French prisoners, the crew of a large French privateer, of 18 guns, commanded by the noted Blackman, and captured by Capt. Hancock, of the Cruiser sloop, marched into Norwich, and next morning proceeded, under a guard of Fifeshire Militia, for Norman Cross Barracks. The Corporation of Yarmouth and the merchants of the port voted their thanks to Capt. Hancock and his officers for their exertions in capturing Blackman, who had committed great depredations. Blackman himself was shipped to Chatham in the Monmouth. His vessel, La Contre-Amiral Magon, had sustained but trifling damage, and while she was lying at Mr. Palmer’s dock at Yarmouth, £2,500 was offered for her for privateering purposes.

27.—David Graham was convicted, before the Rev. J. Oldershaw, for driving cattle on Sunday at Harleston, and under the Act of Charles I. paid a penalty of 20s.

30.—It was reported at the annual meeting of the Society of Universal Good Will, at Norwich, that the number of persons relieved by it since its establishment was 1,940. An appeal was made for public support.

DECEMBER.

3.*—“The inhabitants of Loddon have entered into a subscription for the purpose of defraying the expense of lighting the town.”

4.—Signor Belzoni from Sadler’s Wells, by permission of the Mayor, gave a performance in the assembly room at the Maid’s Head Inn, Norwich. It was described as “a grand hydraulic exhibition, called Fire and Water, along with his phantasmagoria and wonderful feats of strength performed by the Patagonian Samson, who will carry on his head, arms, and body from five to ten men with the greatest ease.” This was the famous Belzoni, the traveller and discoverer of Egyptian antiquities, whose book entitled, “Narrative of the Operations and recent Discoveries in the Pyramids, Temples, Tombs, and Cities of Egypt and Nubia,” obtained a wide circulation.

10.—Thetford coursing meeting commenced. It lasted four days.

1805.

JANUARY.

10.—The Supervisor and officers of Excise belonging to the East Dereham district seized at Melton a horse and cart, with 80 gallons of Geneva and four gallons of brandy.

11.—A murderous poaching affray occurred in Thorpe Wood, near Aylsham, when several game watchers, in the service of Lord Suffield, were severely wounded. At the Norfolk Assizes at Thetford, in March, six of the poachers, indicted under the Black Act, were found guilty and sentenced to death. Lord Suffield and the Hon. Edward Harbord pleaded that their lives might be spared, and the sentence was ultimately commuted to transportation. When the gang were being conveyed by the Expedition night mail coach from Norwich, on their way to Portsmouth, the convicts got free from the chain and made a desperate attempt to escape, but were too heavily ironed. They attacked the coachman, and one of the guards presented a pistol, which missed fire; Johnson, the gaoler, rushed amongst them with a cutlass, and subdued them. One prisoner escaped, and the others were lodged in the Surrey New Gaol on the following morning.

17.—At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was resolved to establish a Hospital and School for the Indigent Blind in Norfolk and Norwich; towards the foundation of which Mr. Thomas Tawell contributed a house and 3½ acres of land in Magdalen Street, valued at £1,050. Mr. Tawell, who was himself blind, made an eloquent and successful appeal, and the institution was opened on October 14th.

28.—The pantomime, “Don Juan,” was produced at Norwich Theatre “in a style which, for the display of beautiful scenery and of appropriate decorations and costumes, is very rarely to be witnessed on provincial boards.”

29.—Died, aged 57, Mr. Thomas Wodehouse, of Sennowe Lodge. He was one of the gentlemen of his Majesty’s Privy Chamber, in which office he was succeeded by Mr. J. W. Thomlinson, of Cley.

FEBRUARY.

2.—Bishop Manners Sutton, of Norwich, was nominated by the King and chosen, February 12th, Archbishop of Canterbury. On the 13th, his Grace arrived at the Palace, Norwich, from London; and on the 15th, the Mayor and Court of Aldermen proceeded in state from the Guildhall to the Palace, where the Recorder (Mr. Harvey) read an address of congratulation to the Archbishop. The clergy of Norwich, on the 16th, waited on his Grace, when the Rev. Prebendary Pretyman addressed the Archbishop in an appropriate speech. On the 17th, his Grace preached his farewell sermon at the Cathedral, and on the 18th departed for Lambeth.

9.—A woman, who had eloped from her home in Kent with a horse dealer, was found by her husband in a house in St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich. She refused to return to him. The dealer offered to buy the woman for £5, and her husband, agreeing, placed a halter round her neck, and surrendered all right and title to her for the sum named.

19.—Died, at his house, the Town Close, Norwich, Mr. Jeremiah Ives, senior alderman of Norwich. He was 78 years of age, and had served the office of Mayor in 1769-1795.

20.—A solemn fast was observed at Norwich.

21.—Mr. Robert Herring, of Bracondale, elected an alderman, in place of Mr. Jeremiah Ives, deceased.

23.—Experiments were made at Norwich to test the practicability of firing a field-piece from a common waggon without injury to the vehicle. The idea, which originated with Major-General Money, “succeeded perfectly, and the horses stood steady during the discharge of the field-piece.”

24.—The clergy of Norwich, having intimated that it was their intention to apply to Parliament for an increase of their incomes by assessment, considerable feeling was manifested in opposition. The Corporation at a quarterly assembly resolved to oppose the application. Vestry meetings were held throughout the city, and the inhabitants unanimously expressed an opinion adverse to the clergy’s proposal.

—The freedom of the city was conferred on Mr. John Frere, the former, and Mr. Robert Fellowes and Mr. William Smith, the then Parliamentary representatives of Norwich.

—A lease of the Dutch Church was granted to the Corporation for 200 years, for the use of the poor in the workhouse; the Dutch congregation reserving the right to bury their dead in the church, and to hold Divine service therein every forenoon of the first Sunday in the month.

MARCH.

4.—Died, aged 60, Elizabeth Clayton, of Wells-next-the-Sea. “This woman, from an early propensity for masculine employments, had worked as a ship’s carpenter at the dockyard of the above port upwards of 40 years, and always in man’s apparel. She used to drink, chew tobacco, and keep company only with workmen, yet would never enter into the matrimonial state. She was a strong robust woman, and never permitted anyone to insult her with impunity.”

18.—The Rev. Henry Bathurst, D.D., “elected Bishop of this Diocese by the Dean and Chapter.” His lordship was installed on May 10th.

23.—At a meeting at the Guildhall, Norwich, resolutions were agreed to “condemning the proposed alterations of the course of the mail coach from London to Norwich by way of Bury, from the consequent later delivery of the letters to the post-office here, and from the earlier despatch from thence, to the great inconvenience of the mercantile and trading houses of the city.” Representations to

this effect were made to the Postmaster-General, but without result. The coach started from the King’s Head, Norwich, at four o’clock, and passed through Thetford, Bury, and Newmarket. It ran every day and stopped at the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, London. Another coach, by Ipswich and Colchester, set up at the Swan with two Necks, Lad Lane.

28.—Miss Aickin, “an actress of superior talents and personal attractions,” made her first appearance at Norwich Theatre in the character of Widow Cheerly in the comedy of “The Soldier’s Daughter,” and as Aura in the farce of “The Farm House.” She played the part of Hamlet on May 4th.

30.*—“The Rev. William L. Gebbart has been elected minister of the Dutch congregation, and also appointed minister of the French church in Norwich.”

—*“It is in contemplation to establish telegraphic communication between Norwich and Yarmouth for mercantile purposes.” In October the Norwich Corporation agreed to pay £10 annually for its support.

—*“An earthen pot, containing 500 pieces of antient English silver coin, was ploughed up in a field near Aylsham. The pieces consisted chiefly of groats of Henry VII. and pennies of the Edwards. There were two gold angels of Henry VI.”

APRIL.

6.*—“A person in the country has lately been convicted, before Mr. Crowe, Mr. Astley and Mr. Norris, in the legal penalty for working and digging in his garden and openly profaning the Sabbath. It is to be hoped that his example will operate towards the discontinuance of the practice, which, perhaps, is nowhere so prevalent as in this county.”

—Leeds Mays, for horse stealing, was executed on the “new drop” on the Castle Hill, Norwich.

—Charles Pegg was publicly whipped in Norwich Market Place, for purchasing soldiers’ necessaries.

13.*—(Advt.) “A main of cocks will be fought on Easter Tuesday and Wednesday, 21 in the main for ten guineas the battle, and 30 guineas the odd; and likewise two turn outs for £20 the battle, and also two byes. April 16th and 17th, at Hindringham Duke of York. The first pair of cocks to be pitted at eleven o’clock in the forenoon. Accommodation for man and horse. Feeders, Fox for Walsingham; Whisker for Wighton.”

22.—At Swaffham, a man, named Angel, undertook for a trifling wager to run 20 miles in three hours. He ran it with ease in 2 hours 50 minutes.

27.—Two gun brigs, of 14 guns each, were launched from Mr. John Preston’s dockyard at Yarmouth.

28.—The oil mill at Hellesdon, belonging to Mr. Wm. Parkinson, was destroyed by fire. The loss amounted to between £2,000 and £3,000.

MAY.

2.—A public meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, when resolutions, expressive of obligations to Earl St. Vincent, for promoting an enquiry into naval abuses, with thanks to Mr. Whitbread for introducing the tenth report of the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry to the notice of the House of Commons; and thanks to Mr. Robert Fellowes, M.P., and Mr. W. Smith, M.P., for supporting Mr. Whitbread’s motion, were unanimously agreed to.

3.—The Common Council of Norwich proposed a vote of thanks to Earl St. Vincent, to the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry, to Mr. Whitbread, and to the members of Parliament for the city. This was negatived by the aldermen by 12 votes to 4.

6.—An impressment took place at Yarmouth. “Ships’ parties stopped every person they met without discrimination or respect for appearances. No less than 300 persons were impressed. Some were confined in the rendezvous of the town gang, others were marched to the barracks or conveyed to the boats lying in readiness at the jetty, and the whole body were carried during the night on to the Monmouth. Next morning a regulation took place, and 50 only were detained.”

14.—At a county meeting, held at the Norwich Shirehall, several resolutions, thanking Earl St. Vincent and the Commissioners of Naval Enquiry, and Mr. Whitbread, Sir J. H. Astley, and Mr. T. W. Coke for their patriotic and independent conduct in Parliament, were unanimously agreed to.

18.—An officer of the Shropshire Militia decided in his favour a wager of ten guineas, “to pick up 100 stones laid in Chapel Field, Norwich, at a distance of a yard from each other, and to deposit them in two baskets placed at the extremities of the line, in the space of one hour.” Another person, a few weeks afterwards, performed the same feat in 44 minutes.

25.—Married, by special licence by the Bishop of Norwich, at his lordship’s house in Manchester-square, London, Mr. Benjamin Bathurst, secretary of legation to the Court of Stockholm, to Miss Call, daughter of Sir John Call, Bart. (In November, 1809, when travelling to England with important despatches as envoy to the Court of Vienna, Bathurst mysteriously disappeared in the town of Perleberg, and was never more seen or heard of.)

—*“A street, 26 feet wide, is about to be opened, forming an entrance, which has long been most desirable, from Chapel Field directly into Bethel Street, Norwich.”

The several battalions of Volunteer Infantry in the county performed a month’s garrison duty in Yarmouth. The Norwich Volunteers were on duty in the city.

JUNE.

1.—Lord Frederick Beauclerk and the Hon. Edward Harbord ran a hundred yards race on Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. Mr. Harbord

was beaten by two yards. He afterwards ran the same distance against Mr. Lambert, and won easily.

4.—The King’s birthday was celebrated in Norwich by the garrison and Volunteers, who paraded to the number of 1,800 and fired a feu de joie on the Castle Meadow. The weather was very cold, and at nine o’clock at night the thermometer registered 36 degrees, only four degrees above freezing point.

8.—William Carter, a private in the City of Norwich Battalion of Infantry Volunteers, convicted, before a regimental court martial, of absenting himself from parade on four successive days, was publicly disgraced and dismissed the battalion.

22.*—“Gabriel Swallow, aged 13, son of a gamekeeper to the Hon. Col. Harbord at Hunworth, shot 21 bullets at a target 80 yards distant for a bet of two guineas. With the exception of three shots, they were all placed within 5½ inches of the centre; three bullets were one inch from the centre; five ditto, two inches; six ditto, three inches; one ditto, four inches; two ditto, five inches; one ditto, 5½ inches.”

24.—Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. Mr. Ball’s threshing machine was shown at work. An ingenious model of a dibbling machine, made by a young man in the neighbourhood; a mowing machine, invented by Mr. Burrell, of Thetford; a scuffler, by Mr. Clarke; the model of a threshing machine, by Mr. Cook, of Aylsham; and an improved drill, by Messrs. Wilson and Standish, of Lynn, were also exhibited. The sweepstake, to estimate the weight of Mr. Coke’s three-shear Leicester wether, was won by Lord Winchilsea, who guessed within half a pound of the actual weight.

JULY.

6.—Mr. Edward Rigby, Mayor of Norwich, in a letter to the Norfolk Chronicle, advocated vaccine inoculation. He wrote: “I inoculated my twin children when they were eight months old with smallpox ichor, and they resisted the infection. Since then I have exposed them to patients under smallpox and at that period of the disease when most likely to communicate infection, which, as before, they were insusceptible to.”

9.—Mdlle. Eloise Adelaide de Bourbon, daughter of the Prince of Condé, took the veil at Bodney Hall, the retreat of the nuns of Montargis.

—A “bugle man” of the Norwich Rifle Corps, named Hardingham, was killed by the accidental discharge of a rifle at target practice. His remains were interred, with military honours, in St. Giles’ churchyard on the 11th.

16.—At a meeting held at the Guildhall, presided over by the Mayor of Norwich, resolutions were adopted for taking the best means of stopping the progress of the contagion of smallpox, and of extending vaccine inoculation. A committee afterwards presented a memorial in favour of vaccination. On September 14th it was announced that nearly 400 of the poor had been vaccinated.

24.—A gift of silver plate was presented to Sir Thomas Beevor, Bart., at Hethel, by the Chairman and Committees of Chief Constables in Humbleyard and adjacent Hundreds, as “a testimonial of esteem and respect and approbation of the able and upright manner in which he had discharged the duties of a magistrate for more than half a century.”

27.*—“At Diss, a number of labourers in husbandry refused to work for the customary wages, and being out of employment applied to the magistrates, who advised the parish officers to put them to work, which they accordingly did. Their business was to carry bricks in a hod from Palgrave to Diss, a distance of two miles. This medicine had the desired effect, for after two days they returned to their former employment.”

AUGUST.

3.*—(Advt.) “A main of cocks will be fought at the Sun Inn, Wells, on Tuesday, August 13th, between the gentlemen of Foulsham and the gentlemen of Wells, five guineas the battle and twenty guineas the odd. There will be two pits. Feeders, Whisker for Foulsham; Souther for Wells.”

6.—The Norwich Society of Artists opened an exhibition of paintings and drawings in their room in Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court.

8.—In consequence of official intelligence of preparations along the enemy’s coast, Major-General Money addressed a letter to the commandants of Yeomanry and Volunteer Cavalry in Norfolk and Suffolk, requesting them to have their corps ready for inspection, and in marching order. A similar letter was sent by Major-General Milner to the commandants of Norfolk Volunteer Infantry, adding that the requisite number of waggons was ordered for their conveyance in case of necessity.

12.—A cricket match was played at Reepham between the gentlemen of Foulsham and the gentlemen of Reepham, Hackford, Whitwell, and Corpusty “for a considerable sum.” It was won by the former, “with eight notches to spare.” The return match, on October 21st, was also won by Foulsham.

26.—A cricket match was played in Blickling Park between elevens of the Blickling and Norwich clubs, and was won by the former. It was followed by a single wicket match between the same teams, when Blickling again won, with nine wickets to go down.

SEPTEMBER.

3.—The committee of the Court of Guardians, appointed to examine the poor-rates of the city and hamlets of Norwich, and to obtain a more equal assessment, reported that an increase of £16,000 stock and £1,800 rent, calculating on the half-rental only, might be made; and recommended a general survey and new valuation to be taken, in consequence of the great alteration which had taken place

in property, and in the value of land in particular since 1786, when the last survey was made.

7.—A remarkable whirlwind occurred at Rockland St. Mary. A rowing boat, lying on the bank of the broad, was lifted into the air and blown a distance of 70 yards; and another large boat was raised out of the water and hurled a considerable distance. A young man was lifted three or four yards in the air and blown several yards. Much damage was done to the roofs of cottages and to wheat sheafs in the fields.

13.—Mr. Incledon, the famous vocalist, appeared at Norwich Theatre in his entertainment, “The Wandering Melodist.”

21.—At a meeting of the Norwich Corporation the committee appointed to take into consideration the propriety of applying to Parliament for an Act for the better lighting, watching, and paving of the city, reported in favour of the proposal, and a gentleman present offered to subscribe £500 towards the undertaking. On October 26th, it was reported that the aldermen had adopted the recommendation, but the Commons threw it out by 20 votes against 16. At a meeting held on October 30th, at which the Bishop, the Mayor, and many of the principal owners and occupiers of estates were present, the petition was unanimously agreed to and signed.

28.*—“A finely preserved Saxon font has been discovered in the church of Great Hautbois, near Coltishall, by Mr. J. A. Repton. Many curious remains of antient sculpture are obscured by repeated coats of dirt and whitewash in our churches.”

—*“Died, lately, Sir James Tylney Longe, Bart., in the eleventh year of his age. By his death the Tylney property, amounting to £25,000 per annum and nearly £300,000 in the Funds, devolves on the distant branches of the Longe family.”

During this month Mr. James Neild, of Chelsea, a well-known philanthropist, visited the county gaol, the city gaol and bridewell, the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and the Duke’s Palace Workhouse. In his report on the Hospital he wrote: “It does honour to the county, and is one of the best I have seen.”

OCTOBER.

7.—A mysterious outrage was committed at Fakenham. A man entered the bed-room of two maiden ladies, named Bale, brutally thrashed one, and attempted to cut the throat of the other, after which he decamped. The Home Office offered his Majesty’s pardon to any accomplice who gave evidence that would lead to a conviction, and Mr. Edward Bale, of Toftrees, offered a reward of £100 for the discovery of the guilty person. No clue was forthcoming.

12.*—“A few days since the Russian Countess Mengdon arrived at her newly-purchased seat, called New Place, Thetford, late the residence of Mr. James Mingay.”

18.—One of a pair of eagles was shot at Cantley. The extended wings measured 7 feet 4½ inches, and the bird was 2½ feet in height.

22.—A two days’ race meeting commenced in Blickling Park. A ball and supper were given by Lord Suffield.

—The Norwich Battalion of Volunteers, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Patteson, and the City of Norwich Battalion of Volunteer Infantry (Lieut.-Col. Harvey) were inspected by Major-General Milner. “A portion of the latter corps proceeded from the Castle ditches to Mile End in waggons, fitted up with seats, and provided throughout the county pursuant to general orders.”

Under the Additional Force Act, Norfolk raised this month 248 men to supply vacancies occasioned by those who had enlisted out of the Militia into the regular Army.

NOVEMBER.

2.*—“The Sheriff of Norwich, Mr. J. H. Yallop, is the fortunate holder of a sixteenth share of the ticket drawn for a prize of £3,000. In the lottery of 1803, Mr. Yallop also shared a prize of £2,000, and in 1804, part of the £20,000 prize.”

7.—Intelligence was received of the battle of Trafalgar, which was fought on October 21st, and of the death of Nelson. “The bells were rung and fired throughout the day, but all the joy that would have arisen from the victory was wholly absorbed in sorrow and regret for the death of the Hero of the Nile and Trafalgar.” Great rejoicings afterwards took place, and addresses of congratulation to his Majesty were unanimously voted by the Corporations of Norwich, Yarmouth, Lynn, &c.

30.—A county meeting was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, when an address to his Majesty on the victory of Trafalgar was agreed to. It was also resolved to open a subscription for erecting a memorial to perpetuate the memory of Lord Nelson’s victories.

DECEMBER.

3.—The Duke of Norfolk arrived at Norwich, and visited the Cathedral, St. Andrew’s Hall, and other public buildings.

—Thanksgiving day. Collections were made in the churches for the relief of the families of those who fell, and for those who were wounded. At Aylsham, there was a “grand naval procession,” barrels of beer were drunk in the Market Place, and a display of fireworks took place at night.

17.—A grand fête was held at the Norwich Assembly Rooms, in honour of Nelson’s victory. Upwards of 450 ladies and gentlemen of the county and city were present at the ball and supper, and the rooms were decorated with transparencies and brilliantly illuminated. The arrangements were carried out by the Norfolk Society, established in 1770.

Among the Acts of Parliament passed this year was one to enable Mr. Daniel Henry Woodward, his sons, and their descendants to use the surname and family arms of Mr. Henry Lee Warner, late of Walsingham.

1806.

JANUARY.

4.*—(Advt.) “To be sold, a Proprietor’s Share in the Norwich Theatre, with or without transferable ticket, which will admit the holder to the Yarmouth, Ipswich, and Colchester Theatres.”

—*“A man of the name of Baxter, formerly a respectable farmer at Buckenham, who took a rash resolution of refusing any kind of sustenance but water, which he continued to do for 38 days at the White Horse at Kenninghall, was induced to give up the same on Monday last by the offer of a noble lady to settle an allowance upon him. He some time ago persisted in the same mode of existence for 19 days.”

9.—The church bells in city and county were tolled from twelve o’clock to two o’clock, on the occasion of the funeral of Lord Nelson at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

12.—A subscription was made for the relief of the poor in Germany, who were suffering under the combined miseries of war and famine. About £300 was collected.

14.—A meeting was held at the Guildhall for the purpose of opposing the Norwich Paving Bill, and a petition against the measure was signed by 1,600 owners and occupiers. On February 8th, the Mayor (Mr. Rigby) announced that “the respectability of the signatures to the petition in favour of the Bill, and the large sum raised to defray the expenses of the application to Parliament, could not but determine its supporters to persevere firmly in promoting it.” On February 24th, the aldermen, by ten votes to eight, ordered the city seal to be affixed to the Bill. Leave was given on March 7th for the insertion of fresh notices in the Bill, in order that it might be carried before Parliament that Session. The Bill was read a first time on April 21st, and was in due course transmitted to a committee of the House of Commons. The taking of evidence for and against the Bill concluded on May 21st, and on June 13th it passed both Houses of Parliament and received the Royal assent. The first election of Commissioners under the Norwich Paving Act took place in July, and the first meeting of Commissioners was held on July 15th, when the Deputy-Mayor (Mr. Rigby) was appointed chairman; Mr. Elisha De Hague, clerk; Messrs. Harvey and Hudson, treasurers; and Mr. John Roots, surveyor.

15.—The vane and spindle of the “antient and beautiful spire” of St. Gregory’s Church, Norwich, were blown off during a severe gale.

FEBRUARY.

3.—On opening a vault at the church of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, a live bat was found therein, of a greyish colour, where it

had probably lain in a torpid state more than 32 years, the distance of time since the vault was before opened.”

8.*—(Advt.) “A main of cocks will be fought on Wednesday, February 19th, at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham, between the gentlemen of Fakenham and the gentlemen of Foulsham. Eleven mains, two byes, and one turn out for five guineas the battle, and ten guineas the odd. Feeders, George Syder for Fakenham; David Lamb for Foulsham.”

9.—James Coleman, bricklayer, of Swardeston, was tolling the bell at the parish church, “when the crown and cannons broke from the bell, and she came down through both floors, killing him on the spot.”

13.—Married, at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, Henry Robert Bowles, acting-manager at the Theatre Royal, to Miss Aickin, of the same theatre.

16.—Died, at St. George Colegate, Norwich, Thomas Troughton, aged 88. “He was a member of the corps of Artillery raised for the internal defence during the Revolution of 1745, and is believed to be the last survivor of that loyal corps.”

22.*—“The interior of the Cathedral is about to undergo a thorough cleaning and repair. It is sixty years since a similar repair was done.” It was re-opened November 22nd.

24.—At a quarterly assembly of the Corporation of Norwich an address was ordered to be presented to his Majesty, “expressive of their gratitude for the paternal affection he has shown to his subjects by waiving every consideration for the public good in the appointment of men of the first abilities in the country to the high offices of State.” A county meeting was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, on March 28th, when a similar resolution was adopted, congratulating his Majesty on the appointment of an administration “in whom the nation feels a well-grounded confidence.” Like addresses were presented by the Corporations of Yarmouth and King’s Lynn.

27.—Landed at Yarmouth, on their return from the Continent, the 4th, 23rd, and 28th Regiments of Foot, and 300 riflemen, comprising the brigade commanded by General Paget.

MARCH.

1.*—“Lately, died, at the age of 113, Mrs. Roope, of Tharston, near Long Stratton. She lived to see her fifth generation.”

5.—A troop of the King’s German Legion (heavy cavalry) arrived at Norwich from Yarmouth, and on the following day proceeded on their march to Scotland.

7.—A public concert was given at Chapel Field House, Norwich. Vocalists: Mr. Vaughan and Mrs. Vaughan (formerly Miss Tennant); leader of the band, Mr. Parnell; at the pianoforte, Mr. Beckwith.

11.—The Board of Agriculture voted their gold medal to Mr. Thomas William Coke, “for his extensive and successful mode of irrigation, by which he has converted a track of unprofitable boggy land in Norfolk into sound and excellent water meadows.”

—The Marquis Townshend’s 85th birthday was celebrated by a dinner at the Crown Inn, and by a ball and supper at the Red Lion Inn, Fakenham.

15.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose, was tried the case, the King v. Anthony. This was an information filed against the defendant by the Attorney-General for assaulting John Stevenson, an officer of Excise, while in the execution of his duty. Stevenson called at the White Horse Inn, Edgefield, on December 2nd, 1805, and found smuggled liquor in panniers belonging to the defendant, whose ostensible trade was that of a vendor of oysters. The officer seized the panniers, but defendant, in regaining them, committed an assault. He was found guilty, and the case was remitted to the King’s Bench for judgment. (No further record appears.)

—*(Advt.) “A main of cocks will be fought at the Maid’s Head Inn, Norwich, on Tuesday, the 25th inst., and two following days between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth. To show 31 mains, and ten bye-cocks, to fight for ten guineas a battle, and 50 guineas the odd battle. There will be five pits. Feeders, David Lamb for Norwich; Thomas Cox for Yarmouth.”

16.—Died, at his house in Surrey Street, Norwich, John Manning, M.D., upwards of 30 years physician at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

17.—Died, at Snettisham Lodge, Mr. Thomas Daniell, Attorney-General of Dominica.

24.—Intelligence was received at Norwich of Vice-Admiral Duckworth’s victory over the French squadron in St. Domingo Bay. Col. Patteson’s Volunteers fired a feu de joie in the Market Place, and the bells of St. Peter Mancroft rang until midnight.

27.—Mr. Heath caught in Panxworth Broad a pike weighing 31 lbs., and measuring 45 inches in length, and 25 inches in girth.

28.—Died, at Bodney Hall, aged 49, Madame Elizabeth de Mirepoix. “Descended from one of the most distinguished families in France, she forsook the allurements of the Court for the retirement and austerity of monastic life. From the storms of the French Revolution the Benedictine Monastery (of which she had been a member 31 years and superior 22 years) sought shelter in England, and found an asylum in this county, where for the last 15 years the nuns have been occupied in the education of Catholic young ladies.”

This month upwards of £800 was subscribed to defray the cost of the erection in Norwich of a monument to the memory of Lord Nelson. Mr. Browne and Mr. Percy submitted designs and models to the committee, but insufficient support was given to the movement.

APRIL.

5.*—“The King has granted the dignity of Earl to the Right Hon. Horatio Baron Walpole, to be known as the Earl of Orford.” Mr. Thomas Wm. Coke was offered, but declined a peerage.

12.—At a meeting of farmers and others at Thetford, it was decided to hold a sheep and lamb fair in that town annually on September 1st.

19.—The Boreas frigate, 28 guns, was launched from the dockyard of Messrs. Stone and Custance, at Yarmouth. On the same day the Ariel sloop, of 18 guns, was launched from Mr. N. Palmer’s yard.

27.—General Milner inspected the Norwich Rifle Corps this day (Sunday); the Norwich Volunteer Regiment on the 28th; and Col. Patteson’s Battalion on the 29th.

MAY.

6.—Died, in his 82nd year, the Rev. George Thomas, vicar of East Dereham and brother of Dr. Thomas, Bishop of Rochester. He was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Hyde Wollaston.

14.—The annual meeting of the Dissenters Benevolent Society, presided over by Mr. Geo. Watson, was held at the Angel Inn, Norwich.

16.—A hundred yards foot race took place on Lord’s Cricket Ground between Lord E. Somerset and the Hon. Edward Harbord. “Lord Edward had the start of Mr. Harbord, and maintained the lead about 60 yards, when Mr. Harbord gained upon and crossed him. There was a foul, and Lord Edward fell. Lord Frederick Beauclerk, who was umpire, gave his decision as follows:—That on account of the accident the race was deemed void, but Mr. Harbord is allowed the power of calling upon Lord Edward to run the race over again any time within the next six months upon giving his lordship six weeks’ notice.”

17.—The sword of the Spanish Admiral, Don Xavier Francisco Winthuysen, who died of his wounds at the battle off Cape St. Vincent, February 14th, 1797, presented to the city of Norwich by Lord Nelson, was placed in the mural monument at the Guildhall.

29.—General Milner, in a letter addressed to the commanding officers of Volunteers in Norwich and Norfolk, expressed “the high sense he entertained of the merit of the Volunteer corps in coming forward in such force, when the country, and this district in particular, was threatened with invasion by a powerful enemy.”

30.—Died, at Calabar, East Indies, in his 32nd year, Capt. Smyth, 56th Regiment, son of Mr. James Smyth, attorney-at-law, of Norwich. He served in all the campaigns in Flanders and Holland under General Coote, in Ireland at the battle of Vinegar Hill, at Gibraltar during the mutiny, and under Sir Ralph Abercromby in Egypt.

JUNE.

9.—Vice-Admiral Russell, accompanied by several officers of the North Sea Fleet, stationed at Yarmouth, visited Norwich.

10.—A rowing match took place between the Lion and the Dove. The course, five miles, was between Carrow and Whitlingham, and the Lion won by 100 yards in 34 minutes.

18.—Wrestling matches were contested on Panxworth Green in the presence of a large number of spectators. “Green, of Beighton, was champion of the green, and came off victorious from all his engagements.” He was eighteen years old.

19.—Norwich Guild day. In consequence of the Cathedral undergoing reparation, the Mayor and Corporation attended service at the church of St. Peter Mancroft. The Mayor, Mr. Thomas Allday Kerrison, entertained 500 guests at dinner at St. Andrew’s Hall; the ball was held at Chapel Field House.

23.—At Holkham Sheep Shearing, Mr. John Herring, jun., of Norwich, exhibited three shawls, manufactured by Messrs. John Herring and Sons entirely from the fleece of Mr. Coke’s Southdowns.

24.—Lord Waldegrave, in command of a detachment of the 7th Light Dragoons, stationed at Norwich, commenced a series of three cricket matches, “with a select number of the men under his command against a party of gentlemen of this city and neighbourhood.” The soldiers won two out of the three games. In the following month Lord Waldegrave came of age, and succeeded to a property amounting to £30,000 a year.

28.—Mr. Incledon appeared at Norwich Theatre in his entertainment, consisting of songs and recitations, “Hospitality, or the Harvest Home.” He reappeared on the 30th.

JULY.

5.—Died, at his house in George Street, Portman Square, London, Arthur Richard Dillon, Archbishop and Duke of Narbonne, Primate of the Gauls, President of the States of Languedoc, and Commander of the Order of the Holy Ghost. “This venerable prelate was uncle to Lady Jerningham, of Costessey.”

—The Primary Visitation of the Bishop of Norwich (which commenced at Thetford on May 22nd) terminated at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich. “Six hundred and ninety-nine young persons from the adjacent parishes, and on the following day nearly 600 persons from the several parishes and hamlets of the city were confirmed. The total number of persons who had been confirmed throughout the diocese in the course of this visitation is computed at nearly 17,000.”

10.—This day “the thermometer stood at 82, exposed to the north.” On the 19th of the previous month the heat was so great that many post horses died.

12.—The Royal assent was given to an Act to enable his Majesty “to grant the Castle of Norwich, with the county gaol, Castle Hill, and certain land adjacent thereto, in Norfolk, and for vesting the same in the justices of the peace for the said county, with the use thereof.”

13.—A remarkable suicide took place at Yarmouth. “Two servant women tied themselves together with ribbon, walked into the sea, and were drowned.” They were the wives of privates in the Shropshire Militia. “Their husbands had come to see them the previous day, and, refusing to permit them to return with them, they committed the rash act.”

14.—A large concourse assembled to witness a camping match on Crostwick Common between the Hundreds of Taverham and of Blofield. Conditions:—“Play 40 minutes; candidates to be young men under 25 and unmarried. Prize, a hat of the value of 10s. 6d. for each of the successful combatants.” The affair ended in a walk over, owing to the absence of the Blofield men. “It is now 20 years since a regular camp was played at Crostwick, and that one was patronised by one of his Majesty’s present ministers, who is not more celebrated for his political talents, and the accomplishments of a liberal and enlightened mind, than for his attachment to the ancient sports and amusements of his country.” (Reference is here made to William Windham.)

17.—The annual water frolic and aquatic procession took place at Norwich, “led by Admiral Clarke in full uniform in the Apollo.”

21.—The Corporation of Norwich again granted the use of St. Andrew’s Hall to the corn merchants, as a place of exchange, at the annual rent of 50 guineas. “A letter from Mr. Opie was read, in which that celebrated artist stated that, if due care was taken to prevent persons from touching the paintings in the hall, they would sustain no injury if the hall was opened ten times a week.”

26.—Arrived, at Yarmouth, the Blanche frigate, Capt. Lavie, with La Guerriere, French frigate of 50 guns, Capt. Hubert, captured on the 18th, after a desperate action of 45 minutes. La Guerriere had taken eight Greenlandmen and one Yarmouth vessel, all of which she had destroyed.

28.—The Volunteer corps agreed to continue their services under new regulations and at reduced pay. The regulations were made in accordance with a new Act of Parliament, which provided for the military training of the population by the calling out of 200,000 men in each year.

31.—The Duke’s Palace estate in Norwich, belonging to the Duke of Norfolk, was sold in lots for £5,055, exclusive of the Public Library and house adjoining.

AUGUST.

9.*—(Advt.) “To be seen alive (from Mr. Kendrick’s menagerie, 42, Piccadilly), in a commodious room at Mr. Peck’s, the Church Stile, in the Market Place, Norwich, a most surprising crocodile from the Nile ever seen in this kingdom. He is so remarkably tame that any lady or gentleman may touch him with safety.”

13.—The Norwich Society of Artists opened an exhibition in their room in Sir Benjamin Wrenche’s Court. The exhibitors included A. Brown, W. Browne, and Stone, architectural subjects; Crome, Dixon, Gordon, C. Hodgson, Ladbrooke, Leeds, and Thirtle, landscapes; Cooper, horses and cattle; Mrs. Coppin, Freeman, and Thirtle, portraits; and Sillett, flowers and still life. “The exhibition is such as to authorise our predicting that the seeds of genius, which have evidently taken deep root in some of the artists, will secure them most respectable places in the roll of fame.”

14.—The anniversary sermon for the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was preached by the Bishop of Norwich at St. Peter Mancroft. The sum collected was £185 16s. 6d., and the proceeds of the dinner at the Swan Inn amounted to £41 9s. 6d.

28.—The Comus frigate, 22 guns, was launched from the dockyard of Messrs. Custance and Co., at Yarmouth.

30.—The Norwich Paving Commissioners advertised that they were “ready to contract with any person or persons for watch boxes, to be made of good and well-seasoned yellow deal, and painted on the outsides of a lead colour three times in oil. Also to receive proposals for and contract with any person or persons for 36 strong and well-made watchmen’s coats of a dark drab coloured cloth, large double collar, with belt of the same sewed to the coat, and white and strong metal buttons.”

SEPTEMBER.

11.—Died, at the age of 100 years, Mrs. Crisp, of Loddon.

12.—Died, at Brighton, aged 76, the Right Hon. Edward Lord Thurlow, Lord Chancellor 1778 to 1793, except for a few months during the Coalition Administration in 1783, when the seals were put in Commission. He was the son of the Rev. Mr. Thurlow, rector of Ashfield, Suffolk, and was born at Braconash, Norfolk, December 9th, 1730. He was succeeded in his title and estates by his nephew, only son of the Bishop of Durham.

—Died, at Breccles, near Watton, aged 107 years and 8 months, John Stubings, husbandman. “He never occupied more than five acres of land nor received any parochial relief.”

13.*—(Advt.) “Docking Snettisham, Lynn, and Norwich Telegraph, from Docking to Lynn and Lynn to Norwich. Leaves Docking at seven o’clock on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, through Snettisham and Castle Rising, to Star Inn, Lynn. Leaves Lynn at eleven o’clock, to the Woolpack, St. Giles, Norwich, through Gayton, Litcham, Mileham, Brisley, Elmham, Bawdeswell, Lenwade Bridge, Attlebridge, and Drayton, and returns the following morning at seven o’clock.”

25.—A shark, measuring nine feet in length and weighing three cwts., was caught off Yarmouth.

OCTOBER.

3.—The bells of several parish churches in Norwich were tolled at noon, the hour appointed for the interment, in Westminster Abbey, of the remains of the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, who died September 13th.

4.*—(Advt.) “The Norwich and Yarmouth Machine runs every day from the Black Horse, Tombland, and White Hart, near the Wrestlers, Yarmouth.”

15.—Died suddenly, aged 58, Henry Bowles, the elder, formerly of the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

21.—Blickling races commenced, and afforded “the greatest sport ever known at this place.” The principal event, a sweepstake for 50 guineas for horses bred in Norfolk, was won by Col. Harbord’s bay filly Czarina.

—Launched from the dockyard of Mr. J. S. Douglas, Yarmouth, the Lord Nelson packet, 91 tons, intended for the Harwich station.

29.—A trotting match for 50 guineas took place on the turnpike road from Norwich to Watton, between Mr. King’s chestnut hone Doubtful and Mr. Jeary’s brown mare Velocity. “The horse won by about two lengths. Owing to a dispute respecting the horse galloping within the last hundred yards the match still remains undetermined. Fifteen and a half miles were covered in one hour.”

Capt. Sir Edward Berry, R.N., was this month created a baronet, in consideration of his eminent services to the country.

NOVEMBER.

3.—A Parliamentary election took place at Norwich, resulting in the return of Mr. John Patteson, 1,733 votes, and Mr. Robert Fellowes, 1,370 votes. Mr. Wm. Smith, who polled 1,333 votes, was the unsuccessful candidate. On the 10th “the Norwich Battalion of Volunteers received Col. Patteson, M.P., with a general salute, and fired three vollies and gave three cheers in token of their satisfaction at his being elected one of the representatives of the city.”

—King’s Lynn election. Lord Walpole and Sir M. B. ffolkes returned unopposed.

4.—Thetford election. Lord William Fitzroy, 28 votes; Mr. James Mingay, 17 votes. Mr. Thomas Creevey, the unsuccessful candidate, polled 14 votes.

—Yarmouth election. The Hon. Edward Harbord and Mr. S. Lushington returned unopposed. A petition was lodged against the return, but the committee of the House of Commons declared it to be frivolous and vexatious, and the members retained their seats.

6.—Miss Elizabeth Bidwell, niece of Mr. Bidwell, of Thetford, arrived at Harwich from Berlin. “She was tutoress to the King of Prussia’s children, and had a narrow escape of falling into the hands of the French, and when she landed was destitute of money and change of raiment.” Miss Bidwell afterwards had an audience of the Queen at Windsor, to whom she related the details of her escape.

12.—The Sapphire sloop of war, 18 guns, launched from Messrs. Brindley’s yard at King’s Lynn.

13.—County election. The poll was open for six days. Mr. T. W. Coke, 4,118 votes; the Right Hon. William Windham, 3,722 votes. The unsuccessful candidate, the Hon. John Wodehouse, received 3,365 votes. “On the chairing day, as well as every day during the election, there were excellent dinners provided at the White Swan and Angel, where Mr. Coke and Mr. Windham met large parties of their friends, whose convivial enjoyments were much heightened by the eloquent orations of Mr. Plumptre and the exertions of Mr. Mingay, whose good-humoured sallies and witticisms never failed to set the

tables in a roar.” A petition against the return of the members was presented by Mr. T. T. Berney and others, and on February 12th, 1807, the committee of the House of Commons declared the election void. On February 26th, Mr. Coke was returned unopposed for Derby, in place of his brother, Mr. E. Coke, who had accepted the Chiltern Hundreds. On March 5th, Mr. E. Coke and Sir Jacob Astley, Bart., were returned unopposed for Norfolk, and Mr. Windham took his seat, without opposition, as member for New Romney.

24.—Died, in St. Lawrence’, Norwich, Mrs. Galey, aged 101.

30.—At the meeting of the Society of Universal Good Will, at Norwich, it was reported that 187 persons, besides weekly pensioners, had been relieved during the year, making in all 2,218 since the establishment of the institution.

DECEMBER.

4.—Mr. J. W. Robberds was elected an alderman for the Ward beyond the Water, Norwich, in place of Mr. J. G. Baseley, who died December 1st.

6.—Died, in the 63rd year of his age, Thomas Osborn, bell founder, Downham Market.

13.*—“Died, lately, in the parish of St. Mary, Norwich, Sarah Pickwood, aged 49 years. This was one of the most enormous cases of dropsy on record. In the course of about 50 months she was tapped 38 times, and discharged 350 gallons of the fluid, weighing 4,656 lbs. troy. The greatest quantity discharged at one operation measured 11½ gallons, and weighed 153½ lbs.”

18.—In the course of alterations at Ketteringham Hall, a fire occurred, which destroyed the centre of the building, with all the new work.

20.*—“Whenever a fire occurs in the neighbourhood the large travelling engine, belonging to the Norwich Fire Office, may be obtained by sending a man and two horses and applying to the sexton of St. Peter Mancroft Church, in which place the engine is deposited.”

The following Acts were passed this year:—

An Act to enable his Majesty to grant an annuity to Lady Viscountess Nelson, in consideration of the eminent services performed by the late Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson to his Majesty and the public.

An Act for settling and securing a certain annuity on Earl Nelson and the heirs male of his body and such persons to whom the title of Earl Nelson may descend, and for granting the sum of £100,000 to purchase an estate to accompany the said title; and for granting £10,000 to each of the sisters of the late Lord Nelson (Mrs. Matchem and Mrs. Bolton), in consideration of the eminent and signal services performed by the said Lord Nelson to his Majesty and the public.

An Act for amending, altering, and enlarging the powers of an Act, passed in the 42nd year of his Majesty, for paving and otherwise improving the borough of King’s Lynn.

An Act for repairing the parish Church of Great Yarmouth and rebuilding the tower thereof.

1807.

JANUARY.

10.—J. S. Cotman advertised that he had taken a house in Wymer Street, St. Andrew’s, Norwich, “for the accommodation of those ladies and gentlemen who may favour him by becoming pupils.” Terms: In the Academy, £2 2s. quarterly. Four private lessons, £1 1s.

16.—At Norwich Quarter Sessions, William Chapman, a coal hawker, appealed against his conviction, under the Hawkers and Pedlars Act, 29th Geo. III. c. 26, for “carrying coals about the streets of Norwich to sell by retail.” Mr. Steward Firth ordered the conviction to be quashed, with costs. This case was considered of great importance to the citizens, and especially to the poor.

17.*—“Orders have been received in Norwich from the East India Company for 16,000 pieces of fine camblets.”

18.—A length of about 40 yards of the city wall at Norwich fell in Ber Street with a tremendous crash. At the Quarter Sessions on the 16th, the Grand Jury made a presentment, in which attention was called to the dangerous state of the wall.

26.—Died, at Lakenham, Mr. James Crowe, alderman of Norwich, aged 58. He twice served the office of Mayor, in 1774 and 1797. Mr. John Steward was elected in his place.

Little Dunham Lodge, near Swaffham, was this month purchased by Mr. St. George Knudson, for £20,000.

FEBRUARY.

7.*—“A sixteenth share of No. 23,815, which has drawn a prize of £10,000, was sold to J. Turner, servant to Mr. M. F. Rishton, of Lynn.”

—*“The Paving Commissioners have decided to lay the first stone according to the new system of paving in Norwich, in St. Stephen’s Street.”

10.—At Harper’s Pantheon, Norwich, was exhibited a moving panorama, representing the funeral of Lord Nelson.

11.—A heavy fall of snow rendered the roads impassable. The Ipswich mail arrived at Norwich two hours after its usual time; and the Bury coach reached the city at about the same time, after having been once overturned. The Newmarket mail and the Expedition coach were unable to get through. The guard of the mail procured horses, rode across country with the mail bags, and on reaching Bury took a post chaise, arriving in Norwich at four o’clock on the 12th. The Expedition coach reached the city about eight o’clock the same night, drawn by eight horses. The Newmarket mail arrived on the 13th at 1.30 p.m.

11.—Several ships were wrecked during a severe gale on the Norfolk coast. His Majesty’s gun brig Snipe came ashore on the South Ham, with 30 French prisoners on board, many of whom, with part of the crew and some women, perished. In all 60 lives were lost in this ship. Twelve vessels were wrecked between Cromer and Yarmouth.

14.*—“The number of men liable to serve for this county under the Training Act is 18,152.” On April 6th, 607 persons, between the ages of 18 and 45, were drawn by ballot at Norwich to be trained and exercised for 24 days. Among those drawn were “several magistrates and other distinguished personages.”

17.—Died, at Windsor, in his 67th year, the Rev. Dr. Lancaster Adkin, rector of Belaugh and minister of St. Andrew, Norwich. “He was the first founder in Norwich of Sunday Schools, which he constantly attended and instructed for more than 21 years.”

—Orders were given for the enlargement of the courts in the Norwich Shire-house, for the repair of the bridge leading to the Castle, for providing a palisade, and for bringing a supply of river water from the main pipes in Golden Ball Lane to the county gaol.

MARCH.

7.—Sergt. John Parker, 3rd Dragoons, stationed at Norwich on recruiting service, was apprehended on suspicion of having committed a murder at Brighton in 1796. The extraordinary statement upon which the accused was apprehended was concocted by a man named William Cobb, of St. Martin-at-Oak, who informed the Mayor that Parker, when a private in the Somerset Fencible Cavalry, met him (Cobb), then a private in Col. Villier’s Fencible Light Dragoons, while halting at Dorking, and told him that he had murdered a woman at Brighton and had thrown her body into a well. An affidavit sent from Collumpton, in Devonshire, to the effect that Parker was there ill at the time of the alleged murder, was sufficient to procure him his discharge from custody.

9.—Died, in his 85th year, Henry Keymer, of East Dereham, “many years a respectable auctioneer and land surveyor, and late sole proprietor of Herring’s valuable antidote for the cure of the bite of a mad dog.”

11.—A bull, the property of Edward Kett, butcher, of Norwich, was baited near “Bishop Gates.” The baiting “offered very great sport; the bull was a game one, and the dogs equally so.”

24.—Died, in the Close, Norwich, aged 90, the Rev. George Sandby, D.D., 39 years Chancellor of the Diocese. He was Vice-Chancellor of Merton College, Oxford, in 1760.

28.*—“His Majesty has been pleased to appoint Wm. Firth, Esq., Steward of Norwich, to be attorney-general in the province of Upper Canada.” On his resignation of the Stewardship on May 3rd, Mr. Firth received the thanks of the Corporation, and Mr. Robert Alderson was appointed in his place. At about this date, Mr. Thomas Amyot was appointed secretary and registrar of Lower Canada.

APRIL.

4.—William Carter, aged 35, was executed on the “new drop,” Castle Hill, Norwich, for horse stealing.

5.—The Norwich Court of Guardians resolved to petition the House of Commons against Mr. Whitbread’s Bill for amending the Poor Laws.

9.—Died, at his house in Berners Street, London, in his 46th year, John Opie, R.A. His remains were interred in St. Paul’s Cathedral on April 20th.

13.—The Rev. James Brown was elected minister of St. Andrew, Norwich, in place of the Rev. Dr. Adkin, deceased. There were three other candidates. None but resident parishioners were allowed to vote.

16.—Died, at his house in King Street, Norwich, aged 60, Mr. James Hudson, banker. He served the office of Sheriff in 1788, was elected alderman for the Mancroft Ward in 1791, and was Mayor in 1794. Mr. Starling Day, jun., was elected alderman in his place.

MAY.

4.—An election took place at Norwich on the dissolution of Parliament. Mr. J. Patteson, who polled 1,474 votes, and Mr. W. Smith, 1,156 votes, were returned. The unsuccessful candidate, Mr. Robert Fellowes, polled 546 votes.

—Lynn election: Lord Walpole and Sir M. B. ffolkes returned unopposed.

8.—Thetford election: Lord Wm. Fitzroy and Mr. T. Creevey returned unopposed.

—Yarmouth election: Mr. S. Lushington, 604 votes; Mr. W. Jacob, 341; Mr. A. Upcher (unsuccessful), 21.

12.—County election: Mr. T. W. Coke and Sir Jacob Astley, Bart., elected unopposed.

—At a county meeting a committee was appointed for the purpose of forming a club for the independent freeholders of Norfolk. It was a revival of the Norfolk Club, and met three times a year in Norwich, namely, in the Summer Assize week, in the Michaelmas Sessions week, and in the Easter Sessions week. The first meeting was held at the Angel Inn, on October 6th, when Sir John Lombe, Bart., presided.

14.—The birthday of the Right Hon. Wm. Windham was celebrated by a dinner at the Angel Inn, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. Wm. Smith, M.P.

25.—A rowing match took place, from Carrow Abbey to Whitlingham, between the Victory, four oars, and the Britannia, six oars. The course was 4½ miles, and the time of the winning boat, the Britannia, 33 mins. 50 secs.

JUNE.

1.—Died, at Worstead, Mrs. Ann Miller, formerly of Yarmouth, aged 102 years.

4.—His Majesty the King entered upon the 70th year of his age. There were great rejoicings in Norwich. The Mayor and Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, the troops—Regular, Militia, and Volunteer—paraded in the Market Place, fired a feu de joie, and marched past. The Mayor gave a dinner, and the several corps dined at their respective inns.

16.—Mr. Robert Herring was sworn into office as Mayor of Norwich, and gave a dinner to 150 guests at Chapel Field House. “The Mayor’s wine being of the first flavour and quality, the festivity of the day was kept up till past one o’clock the next morning.”

22.—Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. The implements exhibited included an improved Norfolk plough, invented by Mr. Balls, of Saxlingham. Mr. Herring, jun., of Norwich, produced goods of his manufacture, and stated that 117 shawls had that year been made by his firm from 224 lbs. of Mr. Coke’s Southdown wool. Mr. Paul, of Norwich, showed some beautiful specimens of shawls manufactured by himself, “including a flowered shawl, a very close imitation of India, made wholly of Mr. Coke’s marino wool.” The best implement shown this year was an ingenious device by Mr. Paul, of Starston, for catching turnip fly.

29.—Mr. Bannister appeared at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, in “Bannister’s Budget, or an Actor’s Ways and Means.” The entertainment was repeated on July 4th.

JULY.

3.—Died, at Ferney Hill, Gloucester, Mrs. Cooper, widow of the Rev. Dr. Cooper, of Yarmouth, and daughter of Mr. James Bransby, of Shotesham. She was the author of several well-known works, namely, “Fanny Meadows,” “The Daughter,” “The School for Wives,” and “The Exemplary Mother.”

7.—Died, at Heydon House, aged 53, William Earle Bulwer, Colonel in the Army and Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

9.—An action for crim. con. was heard in the Court of King’s Bench, in which Sir G. B. Brograve, of Worstead Hall, Lieut.-Col. of the East Norfolk Militia, was plaintiff, and Capt. Elwin, of the same regiment, defendant. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, damages, £2,000. At Doctor’s Commons, on November 21st, 1808, the court granted a divorce a mansâ et thoro, prayed for on the part of Sir Geo. Brograve against Lady Brograve.

8.—Capt. Manby, barrack-master at Yarmouth, made several experiments with his life-saving apparatus in the presence of Admiral Douglas and other officers of the Navy, who expressed satisfaction with the invention.

—A single wicket cricket match was played at Thetford between two gentlemen of that town and two of Newmarket. The former won, with 37 runs to spare.

11.—Died, at Lady Fenn’s, East Dereham, aged 67, Mr. John Frere, of Roydon, Norfolk, and of Finningham, Suffolk. He was member for Norwich from 1799 to 1802.

15.—Mr. Paul, of Starston, exhibited a machine for removing lice from peas. Two men, in four hours, caught 24 pecks of lice, and in the afternoon took 16 pecks in 2½ hours.

16.—Died, aged 81, Mr. Peter Finch, who for many years held the office of Clerk of the Peace for the county.

23.—A fleet of 24 sail of the line assembled in Yarmouth Roads, under the command of Admiral Gambier, who, with Vice-Admiral Stanhope, sailed on the 26th with 16 sail of the line, 10 frigates, 10 sloops, 9 gun brigs, &c., for the Baltic. Sir Sidney Smith sailed in the Prince of Wales, of 98 guns, Admiral Gambier’s flagship. A strict embargo commenced on the 24th. The remainder of the fleet afterwards sailed. An expedition, under Lieut.-General Sir David Baird, sailed from Harwich about the same time. On September 16th, intelligence was received of the surrender on the 7th of Copenhagen, with the arsenal and the whole of the Danish Navy, to the British forces, under the command of Lieut.-General Lord Cathcart and Admiral Gambier. The British fleet, which sailed from Yarmouth, sustained but comparatively trifling loss.

27.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Norwich, before Mr. Justice Grose, Martha Alden was tried for the murder of her husband, Samuel Alden, at Attleborough, on July 18th. While the man was asleep in bed his wife, with a bill-hook, inflicted terrible wounds on his head, face, and throat. With the assistance of a girl, named Mary Orvice, the prisoner on the 19th deposited the body in a dry ditch in the garden; on the 20th, they carried it in a corn sack to the common and “shot” it into a pond, where it was subsequently discovered. His lordship, in summing up, said that Orvice might have been charged with being accessory to an attempted concealment of murder. The jury found the prisoner guilty, and the judge “doomed her to death, to be drawn on a hurdle to the place of execution, there to be hanged by the neck, and her body to be dissected.” The execution took place at Norwich on July 31st. The populace at Attleborough showed their detestation of the crime by destroying the former dwelling-house of the prisoner. It was reported that the ghost of Alden “walked” on the Castle Hill, and in the month of December a party of drunken men, who went there to “lay” the spirit, were seized by the jailer and detained in prison for two days, pending an inquiry into their conduct.

—At the same Assizes, before Lord Ellenborough, an action was tried, in which Lord Albemarle claimed for the recovery of penalties, amounting to £700, under the game laws. The defendant, one Brooke, a poulterer and wholesale dealer in game, at Thetford, was connected with the poachers and gamekeepers in Norfolk, and with the dealers in Leadenhall market. “The interruption of his commerce,” said counsel, “had created as much alarm in Leadenhall market as the stagnation of trade between this country and the North of Germany had occasioned amongst the merchants at the Royal Exchange.” A verdict was given for the plaintiff, damages £40, “at the rate of £5 for each head of game which had fallen out of a basket sent by the defendant to the London waggon office at Thetford for transit to the metropolis.”

29.—At the public breakfasting at Harper’s Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, nearly 1,100 persons assembled, and 3,500 were present at the evening performance.

30.—The sum of £180 3s. was collected at the anniversary service held at the Cathedral on behalf of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, and £50 16s. resulted from the dinner at the White Swan.

AUGUST.

5.—In the House of Commons a petition was presented on behalf of Messrs. Blackburne and Bonner, brewers, of Lynn, and of the inhabitants of the town, who complained of the undue influence and the arbitrary proceedings of the magistrates of that borough in withholding publicans’ licences.

8.—The Norwich Paving Commissioners advertised for tenders for lighting the city. The number of lamps, it was stated, would not be fewer than 1,200 nor more than 1,400.

10.—Mr. Edmund Reader, of Sisland, near Loddon, undertook, for a bet of five guineas, to cut and tie one acre of wheat in 16 hours in a field belonging to Mr. Burton, at Barford. In 14 hours he had cut one acre seven roods, and had tied 430 sheaves.

31.—A match at bowls was played at Cley, between three gentlemen of that parish and three of Holt, for 50 guineas a side. The latter won five games out of seven.

SEPTEMBER.

7.—The City of Norwich Regiment of Volunteers assembled on Tombland at five am., and marched to Yarmouth for garrison duty. There were on parade 26 officers, 30 sergeants, 25 corporals, and 500 rank and file.

12.—Mr. Philipsthal’s Phantasmagoria was exhibited at the Theatre Royal, Norwich.

14.—Died, at Rainham, in his 84th year, George Marquis Townshend, a Field Marshal, Colonel of the 2nd Regiment of Dragoon Guards, and Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk. His lordship represented Norfolk from 1747 to 1764, and from 1768 to 1772 was Viceroy of Ireland. He acted as Brigadier-General, and gained much honour at the taking of Quebec in 1759, when the command of the troops devolved upon him, in consequence of the death of General Wolfe and of the wounding of General Monkton, second in command. His Majesty granted a pension of £1,000 a year out of the privy purse to the Marchioness Townshend.

19.*—“One day last week a child, playing in the churchyard of St. Michael-at-Plea, Norwich, found concealed behind a gravestone, covered with a tile, a parcel, containing more than £90 in forged Bank of England notes and £14 in counterfeit shillings.”

21.—At a quarterly assembly of the Norwich Corporation the city gates still remaining were ordered to be taken down.

OCTOBER.

13.—The Duke of Clarence, accompanied by the Earl and Countess Cholmondeley, visited Lynn. The Corporation presented an address to his Royal Highness, who was afterwards admitted a free burgess.

19.—Blickling races were this year supplemented by wrestling matches.

22.—Died, aged 40, at Brickhill, Buckinghamshire, on his way from Liverpool, where he had arrived from America, Robert Murray, merchant, of New York, fifth son of Dr. John Murray, of Norwich. He had been absent more than 16 years, and had revisited England, in the hope of alleviating the symptoms of a pulmonary complaint.

24.—Died, in Dublin, aged 72, Mr. James Bradfield, of Stoke Ferry, who by his will endowed a school in that village for 25 poor children.

28.—Lord Cathcart, Commander-in-Chief of the Army employed against Copenhagen, arrived in Norwich from Yarmouth, and next day proceeded to London.

29.—Louis XVIII., travelling as Count de Lille, arrived off Yarmouth in a Swedish frigate, and landed on November 2nd. He was accompanied by the Duke D’Angoulême, the Duke de Berri, and by other representatives of the French nobility.

—A severe storm occurred off the Norfolk coast, and several transports were lost at Yarmouth, where Admiral Gambier arrived with 32 sail of the line, several Dutch prizes, and a great number of frigates.

31.*—“The Militia ballot has commenced. The quota for Norfolk and Norwich is 907.”

—At the Old Bailey, J. Hopgrave was indicted for an assault, with intent to murder his Majesty’s officers of Excise in a smuggling affray at Cawston. The ringleader, one Jeremiah Abel, was convicted at the Old Bailey some months previously. Hopgrave succeeded in proving an alibi, and was acquitted. On December 8th, Richard Wiseman, of the Three Pigs, at Edgefield, was charged at the Old Bailey with obstructing the Excise officers at the same time. He also was acquitted on proving an alibi.

At the end of this month a shooting party at Holkham killed in three days 1,457 head of game. The party included Mr. Coke, the Marquis of Tavistock, Lords Albemarle, Spencer, Althorpe, Anson, and Bradford, Generals Walpole and Keppel, Sir J. Shelly, Col. Keppel, Messrs. W. Smith, Churchill, Collet, Wilbraham, W. Fitzroy, and Smith. Mr. Coke killed 60 the first day, 66 the second, and 70 the third.

NOVEMBER.

4.—A large barn full of barley in the straw, and a stack of barley, the property of General Money, of Trowse, were destroyed by fire, caused by an incendiary, named Thomas Sutton. At the Assizes, held at Thetford, on March 21st, 1808, before Mr. Justice Grose, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He had eight years

previously been sentenced to seven years’ transportation for stealing a pony belonging to the general, and his father had suffered death for horse stealing. “At the trial he behaved in a most audacious manner to the judge, and when sentenced requested the Sheriff to let him be taken to Norwich that he might be hanged amongst his friends.” He was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, April 9th, 1808.

—An entertainment was given by Lord and Lady Cholmondeley to upwards of 300 persons at Houghton Hall. The great hall was converted into a theatre for the performance of an opera written by Mr. Panton. The performers included the author, Miss Wood, Lord Malpas, and the Messrs. Lanyas. Between the acts Lady Charlotte Cholmondeley and Miss Cholmondeley played a pianoforte duet. The opera was preceded by an address, spoken by Lord Malpas, and was followed by a dance and supper.

7.*—“Nathaniel Easthaugh, bellman in Norwich, in gratitude for having had possession of the city bell for 27 years (one year only excepted), has liberally subscribed the sum of ten guineas towards the new pavement, he being at times unable, through infirmity, to walk over the old one.”

10.—Died, aged 52, the Rev. John Walker, one of the minor canons of Norwich Cathedral. His widow afterwards published a volume of his poems.

11.—Seven fishermen were drowned within 50 yards of the shore at Sheringham, through the upsetting of their boats in a sudden gale.

14.—The privateer La Décidé was brought into Yarmouth by L’Amiable frigate, Capt. G. Stuart. The privateer had long evaded the cruisers and committed great depredations upon commerce. She was supposed to have captured 30 prizes within three years.

27.—Died, aged 77, John Clarke Snell, of Norwich. “He was formerly of Bury St. Edmund’s, and remarkable for his eccentricities and for his study of astrology, which rendered him a well-known character.”

28.—John Gulley and Tom Cribb, the famous pugilists, gave an exhibition of sparring in the great room at the King’s Head Inn, Norwich. Upwards of 200 persons were present, including the Right Hon. William Windham and the Hon. Edward Harbord.

30.—At the annual meeting of the Society of Universal Good Will at Norwich, it was reported that 2,420 persons had been relieved since its establishment.

DECEMBER.

12.—Married, at his lordship’s house, Charles Street, Berkeley Square, London, the Right Hon. the Earl of Craven to Miss Louisa Brunton, of Covent Garden Theatre, and daughter of John Brunton, Esq., formerly of Norwich, who gave the bride away. “The Earl is in his 37th and the fair bride in her 25th year.” Mr. Brunton was for many years manager of the Norwich Theatre, and Miss Louisa Brunton was a favourite performer there.

13.—Died, in St. Simon’s, Norwich, aged 86, Mrs. Mary Mack. “She lived several years in the service of the late Mr. W. Tilyard, of Poringland, during which time she constantly travelled the number of 2,920 miles annually, which in ten years amounted to 29,220, the house being fully four miles from Norwich, and her master, who was a very eccentric character, never failed sending her every day (Sunday not excepted) for such things as his whimsical and capricious fancy suggested he stood in need of.”

—Died, at Claxton, Mrs. Eliza Norton, in her 101st year.

19.*—“A telegraph or signal station is on the point of being erected upon the hills leading from Norwich to Thorpe. It is to be commanded by a naval officer, and the object of it is to open and maintain a prompt communication with Yarmouth on the one side, and with the telegraphs between Norwich and London on the other.” Messages were afterwards sent from the Admiralty to Yarmouth in 17 minutes. The chain of communication was by Strumpshaw, Thorpe Hills, Honingham, Carlton, and Harling, and thence by way of Thetford and Bury St. Edmund’s, across Newmarket Heath, to London.

21.—Experiments were made at Norwich, with the view of testing the practicability of General Money’s proposal to Government for mounting cannon on waggons for the protection of vessels on the coast. The Artillery officers at Woolwich gave General Money credit for his invention, and many ship owners and masters of vessels approved the plan.

An Act was passed this year for enabling Rear-Admiral Bentinck, tenant for life under the will of his late father, Mr. John Albert Bentinck, to charge his estates in the county of Norfolk with the sums therein mentioned, for embanking, improving, and increasing the same estates by the means therein mentioned.