1822.
The year commenced with the same heavy complaints from the agriculturists, and in most counties meetings were held to declare their distress, and to call for retrenchment and reform. In some cases Mr. Cobbett procured the addition of a rider to these agricultural petitions, praying for a reduction of interest on the National Debt. Such a reduction, indeed, was actually made, by the conversion of the Five per Cents.; and this, with the retrenchments forced upon ministers by the representatives of the counties constantly voting with Mr. Hume and other economists, allowed of considerable relief in the shape of remission of taxes. The Bank of England also reduced its rate of discount from five to four per cent. on the 20th of June. A most important measure, too, was that which extended permission to the banks to issue notes under the value of £5 until 1833, which was likewise forced upon ministers by the Parliamentary landlords; and it produced an immediate rise in prices, but led also to a plethora of paper money most disastrous in its consequences. Consols averaged 80; wheat averaged 44s. 7d.
February—Discovery of mineral waters at Evesham—a saline spring; containing 23.06 of sulphate of soda in every 100 parts.
February 7—The Worcester Dispensary established.
March 4—Colonel Davies moved reductions in the army estimates, and was supported by a minority of 58.
April 17—At a respectable meeting held in Worcester, presided over by William Wall, Esq., a petition was agreed to, praying for a revision of the criminal code.
May—Collections made in Worcester, and at the parishes adjoining, on behalf of the starving peasantry in the west of Ireland. More than £1,100 was collected in this district.
June—A Penitentiary established in Worcester. It did much good for years, and was then suffered to die for want of support.
June 25—A road maker at Eckington, named Pickerill, only thirty-three years of age, having obtained from his wife a confession of her infidelity, mixed half an ounce of arsenic with as much sugar and ate it before her face. Assistance was immediately obtained, but he died in a few hours.
October 10—An attempt was made to carry away a newly buried corpse from Grimley churchyard. A reward of £50 was offered for the conviction of the resurrectionists, who had evidently only desisted from carrying away the body by finding it too much decomposed for their purpose.
October—The penny loaf, as fixed by the magistrates at what was called the assize of bread, varied from 4 oz. 14 dr. to 9 oz. 14 dr. between October, 1821, and October, 1822.
Local Act—For repair of Evesham roads.