1804. January 18th. The city of Norwich Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, 600 strong, commanded by Lieut. Col. Harvey, received their colours. The banners, given by the mayor and corporation, were first consecrated in the Market Place, by the Rev. E. S. Thurlow, prebendary of Norwich, with a suitable address and prayer, and were afterwards presented by the mayor, John Morse, Esq., to the colonel in due form. The king’s and regimental standards were then delivered to the ensigns. The Artillery, under Capt. Fyers, stationed on the Castle Hill, fired salutes; the Regiment fired three vollies; and St. Peter’s bells rang merry peals.
June 1st. The city of Norwich (or 7th) Regiment of Norfolk Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Lieut. Colonel Harvey, entered on one month’s permanent duty in Norwich. The Regiment mustered 500 strong, exclusive of officers.
June 4th. The anniversary of His Majesty’s birthday was celebrated in Norwich by the grandest military spectacle ever witnessed here. Upwards of 1700 men of the Royal Artillery, 24th Regiment of Foot, and the Norwich Volunteer Corps, assembled on the Castle Hill and fired a feu de joie with fine effect. During this year the citizens were often entertained with military displays. June 18th, Major General Money was appointed to the staff of the eastern district; in which a force of 32,000 men was now fully completed for the reception of any invading enemy.
June 18th. The corporation granted the site of the Blackfriars, in St. Andrew’s, to the court of guardians, for 200 years at their old rent for the purpose of improving the same, and repairing the Old Workhouse for the poor, the plan of erecting a New Workhouse having been abandoned. Subsequently, large sums of money were wasted in repairing the old house, sufficient to build a new one, and ultimately it was found to be absolutely necessary to build a new house, which was done at a cost of £30,000.
1805. January 17th. At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, it was resolved to establish an hospital and school for the indigent blind, in Norwich and Norfolk. Towards the foundation of this admirable institution, Thomas Tawell, Esq., contributed a house and three and-a-half acres of land in Magdalen Street, valued at £1050. Mr. Tawell, who was unfortunately blind, introduced his humane proposal in an able speech, appealing for subscriptions. A large sum was at once subscribed. The hospital was opened on the 14th October following.
February 2nd. Dr. Charles Manners Sutton, bishop 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. On the 15th, the mayor and court of aldermen proceeded in state from the Guildhall to the Bishop’s Palace, where the recorder, Mr. Harvey, delivered an address of congratulation to the archbishop on his translation, to which His Grace returned a dignified answer. Next day, the clergy of Norwich waited on His Grace, when the Rev. Dr. Pretyman, prebendary, addressed the archbishop in an appropriate speech, to which His Grace made an impressive reply. On the 17th His Grace preached his farewell sermon in the Cathedral.
February 24th. The clergy of Norwich having intimated an intention of applying to Parliament for an increase of their incomes, then very small, by assessment, the council, at a quarterly assembly, resolved to oppose the application; the citizens, in vestry meetings, being unanimous against the measure, which was never carried out.
March 18th. Dr. Henry Bathurst (one of the prebendaries of Durham) was elected bishop of Norwich by the dean and chapter. He soon made himself universally beloved by the clergy and the citizens. Professor Taylor gave the following account of the late and also of the newly appointed bishop:—
“In 1805, Dr. Bathurst succeeded Dr. Sutton as bishop of Norwich. The latter, who had been translated to the See of Canterbury, was a man of polished manners, extravagant habits, and courtier-like address. He was too polite to quarrel with anybody and too prudent to provoke controversy. He neither felt nor affected to feel any horror of Unitarians. He invited them to his table, and at the request of the mayor, he preached a charity sermon at St. George’s Colegate, knowing that my father had been asked and had consented to write the hymns.”
“Dr. Bathurst removed from Durham to Norwich, and as he was a stranger in his new residence, never having taken any prominent part as a public man, little expectation was excited as to his future conduct. He was known to owe his elevation to his relation, Lord Bathurst; and it was generally taken for granted that his views on public affairs were similar to those of the administration of which that noble lord was a member. Curiosity led me to the Cathedral to hear the new bishop’s primary charge, and I soon found the spirit it breathed to resemble the benevolence that beamed from his countenance.”
“What the bishop preached he also practised. He never shrunk from appearing to be what he really was, nor while he received a dissenter in his study with politeness would he pass him unnoticed in the street. He was to be seen walking arm-in-arm with persons, of all persuasions, whom he respected, in the streets of Norwich. He was not afraid of shaking ‘brother Madge,’ as he called him, by the hand, nor of welcoming Unitarians to his table. What he was as a member of the house of peers, on all occasions in which the great principles of religious liberty were concerned, is well known. I have only here to speak of his conduct as a resident in Norwich.”
Sept 3rd. The committee of the court of guardians appointed to examine the poor rates of the city and hamlets, for the purpose of obtaining a more equal assessment, made their report, in which they stated that an increase of £16,000 stock and £1800 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 since 1786, when the previous survey was taken.