11.—Early in the morning a boat’s crew from his Majesty’s ship Cadmus, at Yarmouth, when passing down the river to the harbour’s mouth with impressed seamen, were attacked by a mob on both banks, and several of the sailors were severely wounded with stones. The mob seized the gig belonging to the Cadmus and destroyed her. The Admiralty offered a reward of £20 for the conviction of the offenders. At the Norfolk Assizes held at Norwich on August 14th, 1816, before Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, seven persons were indicted for riotously assembling and rescuing from the press gang, legally authorised, a person who had been impressed. The defendants, with one exception, were found guilty. In the following December they were sentenced in the Court of King’s Bench to nine months’ imprisonment each.
13.—Died, in St. Giles’ Street, Norwich, aged 20, Mr. H. Fisher, son of Mr. David Fisher, manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians.
18.—At this date a series of disturbances occurred at Norwich Theatre. Mr. F. A. Vining, a member of the company, in a letter dated May 18th, and addressed to the patrons of the Theatre, referred to the “injustice and cruelty which had been heaped upon him within its walls.” He had left Norwich to accept an engagement at Covent Garden Theatre and appeared there with success for 90 or 100 nights. At the end of the London season he accepted a further engagement at Norwich, when, it was alleged, that Mr. Vining, “being found unworthy of a situation in another theatre,” Mr. Jones, a member of the Norwich Company, was “discharged to make room for him.” Mr. Vining denied any personal knowledge of the matter. On May 29th several friends of Mr. Jones were committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions for creating disturbances at the Theatre. At the Quarter Sessions on July 11th the recognisances of the sureties who had been bound over for the accused were discharged, “it being the intention of the prosecution to prefer an indictment at the ensuing Assizes.” At the Assizes held on July 25th the Grand Jury found true bills against the defendants, when the indictments were traversed and the accused discharged till the next Assizes. On that occasion the defendants entered into recognisances to appear at the next ensuing Assizes, and no further record is given.
20.*—“The diversion of hawking, a sport antiently much used, has been revived in this country on a considerable scale by Lord Rivers, Major Wilson, of Didlington, and Mr. Downes, of Gunton. Their subscription hawks, under the management of German falconers, have afforded much amusement to numerous spectators. Last week they were exhibited at Newmarket after the races, and flown off at some rooks in the Flat, which they speedily brought down.”
25.—A Methodist Missionary Society for the Norwich District was formed at a meeting held at Calvert Street, Norwich.
29.—The prisoners in the City Gaol, Norwich, returned thanks to the Mayor and Corporation “for 10s. worth of beer given them on the anniversary of King Charles Restoration.”
JUNE.
4.—King George III. attained his 78th year on this day (Sunday). The Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, the Brunswick Hussars fired a feu de joie in the barrack square, and the Light Horse Volunteers, commanded by Major J. Harvey, marched into the Market Place, and after thrice discharging their pistols gave three cheers for the King. “The children belonging to the Sunday School of the Independent Chapel at Lynn, about 800 in number, were regaled with cake and wine.” On the 5th a society at Norwich, known as “The Loyal Heroes,” celebrated the Royal birthday by dining at the Pigeons, Charing Cross.
6.—Married at St. Peter Mancroft church, Norwich, Lieut.-Col. Robert John Harvey to Charlotte Mary, only daughter of Mr. Robert Harvey, of Watton. After the service “the wedding party returned to their carriages, a wedding peal was rung, and the Norwich Light Horse, forming a guard of honour, acted as escort to the bride and bridegroom, and fired a feu de joie in front of their house.”
12.—A grand camping match took place at Ranworth. “They played 24 a side, but neither party goaled the ball, and it was decided by a bye.” Between 2,000 and 3,000 persons were present.