1807.
Feb. 17th. Gun-brig “Snipe,” with 30 French prisoners on board, wrecked on the Beach. Many of them were drowned, together with part of her crew and some women, in all upwards of 60. There were several other wrecks, for the wind blew a hurricane, and a drifting snow rendered the highways for a time impassable.
Feb. 18th. Capt. G. W. Manby, barrack-master at Yarmouth, first succeeded in projecting a line over a stranded vessel; and on Feb. 12th, 1808, seven lives were saved from a vessel 150 yards from the Beach. Parliament rewarded him at different times with grants amounting to £6,000. He was born at Hilgay, Norfolk. Captain Manby, at the age of 88 years, had the satisfaction of knowing that he had been instrumental in saving upwards of 1,000 lives in various parts of the world by his invention. The two ingenious painters (the Joys), brothers and sons of a mail-guard, owed much of their fame to the patronage and assistance afforded them in their youth by Captain Manby.
May 9th. Hon. E. Harbord and S. Lushington, Esq., returned to Parliament. Votes—H., 627; L., 604; William Jacob, 341; A. Upcher, 21.
July 3rd. Mrs. Cooper, relict of the Rev. D. Cooper, of Yarmouth, died. This lady, with an ardent desire to inculcate Christian morality, penned several publications, viz., “Fanny Meadows,” “The Daughter,” “The School for Wives,” and “Exemplary Mother.”
July 26th. The fleet, under Lord Gambier and Vice-Admiral Stanhope (69 pennants in all), sailed from Yarmouth Roads. Sir W. Sidney Smith sailed in Gambier’s flag-ship, “Prince of Wales,” 98 guns. Soon afterwards was fought the second battle of Copenhagen (Sept. 7th). Most of their prizes were brought to Yarmouth—64 vessels mounting 1,994 guns.
Aug. 14th. E. H. K. Lacon born. He was educated at Cambridge, and created a baronet in 1820 on the death of his father.
Sept. 7th. Norwich Volunteer Infantry marched to Yarmouth for garrison duty.
Oct. 29th. Several transports lost off Yarmouth and Lowestoft.
Nov. 14th. Privateer “Le Décide” brought into this port by the frigate “L’Amiable.” She had made no less than 30 prizes.
Nov. 2nd. Louis XVIII. (under the title of Count de Lille) landed at Yarmouth from a Swedish frigate. The Dukes d’Angouleme and De Berri, and several French noblemen, came with him. This was the first time since the memorable battle of Poictiers, in 1356, that a King of France had been in England.
Dec. A Telegraph erected upon the hill at Thorpe communicating with Yarmouth. An order from the Admiralty Office in London was received at Yarmouth in seventeen minutes.
North Gate removed to widen the roadway. It was flanked with square towers of curious workmanship.
One hundred and forty-four dead bodies washed ashore in this vicinity after a heavy gale.
A new peal of ten bells put in the tower of St. Nicholas’ Church, and first rung out on May 2nd, 1808. Cost £1,161 8s. 4d. The spire of the Church was also rebuilt the same year.