31.*—“The Prince Regent has been pleased to grant the dignity of a baronet to Mr. Thomas Preston, of Beeston St. Lawrence.”
1815.
JANUARY.
6.—At Brighton Pavilion the Prince Regent conferred the honour of knighthood on Colonel Kerrison, 7th Hussars.
12.—Mr. Crisp Brown, as “Mayor” of the Castle Corporation, Norwich, presented to Mr. Thomas Back a silver vase in recognition of his “zealous and liberal support of the loyal and constitutional principles of the society.”
13.—At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, presided over by the Mayor, it was unanimously resolved to petition Parliament against the continuance of the Property Tax under any modification whatever. Both Members for the city supported the resolutions. A meeting of the owners of estates, and other contributors to the Property Tax, in Norfolk, took place at the Shirehouse under the presidency of the High Sheriff. Similar resolutions were adopted on the ground that the tax was “unjust, unequal, and inquisitorial.” At Yarmouth, Lynn, and other towns in the county like protests were made.
14.—Equestrian performances were given at Norwich Theatre for a short season, commencing on this date. The “beautiful and surprising troop of horses” appeared in the dramatic spectacles of “Timour, the Tartar,” “Blue Beard,” “The Tiger Horde,” and “Lodorska.”
—*“All those who have witnessed the performance of Mons. du Pain, at the Angel Inn, Norwich, particularly his emersing his hands and feet in boiling lead, express their astonishment at his feats, and the room is crowded every day.”
—*“Died, lately at Lynn, aged 70, Mr. William Munsen, who pursued the employment of a shoeblack. He was reported to be the illegitimate son of a nobleman, and would never accept offers of pecuniary assistance which were secretly made to him by his unknown parents. He supported himself for 50 years by his humble employment, and was generally known as “Billy Boots.” (A detailed account of this individual was compiled by Hone from the notice in the Norfolk Chronicle.)
16.—The fifth great main of cocks between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridgeshire commenced at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, and after a sharp contest, which lasted the two following days, was won by the home representatives by a single battle. Betting was in favour of Cambridgeshire.