15.—The Norwich Court of Guardians considered the question of the erection of a new workhouse. The average number of poor maintained in the two workhouses during the previous 18 years had been 1,282. It was recommended that one building be erected to accommodate 1,300, the money to be borrowed on shares of £100 each, bearing interest, and to be paid off by lot, so that the whole debt, with interest thereon, would be discharged in 20 years. A Bill was brought before Parliament and received the Royal assent on May 24th, and a site for the building was purchased near “the opening to Chapel Field.” On December 7th, in consequence of observations made by Mr. Alderman Rigby on the subject of outdoor relief, the question was deferred until the committee had informed the Court whether “these allowances may not be so extended without any diminution of the comforts of the poor as to render unnecessary
the building of such a workhouse as has hitherto been proposed.” The scheme for the erection of the workhouse was ultimately abandoned.
21.—Died, Mr. Henry Skipper, dyer, St. Peter Hungate, Norwich. “He was in his time a famous pugilist, and fought several pitched battles with Algar, Henry, and others.”
MARCH.
16.—Died, at his house in Greville Street, Hatton Garden, London, in the 28th year of his age, Thomas Archibald Murray, M.D., one of the physicians of the public dispensary in Carey Street, and of the House of Recovery for Infectious Diseases, an institution which, in a great measure, owed its establishment to Dr. Murray’s exertions. He was the youngest son of Dr. John Murray, founder of the Scots Society in Norwich, who died September 26th, 1792.
20.*—“Died, lately, at Strawberry Hill, near Collumpton, Devonshire, aged 78, the Earl of Montrath, of Weeting Hall. The Earldom is extinct. His lordship left a legacy of £2,000 to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. His invariable dread of small-pox occasioned his lordship to lead absolutely the life of a recluse. His terror was so great that he had five houses between his seat at Weeting and his house in Devonshire, to prevent the chance of infection, and at these houses small establishments were kept up, as he dared not sleep in an inn.”
24.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, the Grand Jury made a presentment, to the effect that, as hay and corn were considerably reduced in price, publicans and posting-masters might, without injury to themselves, decrease their charges. It was resolved “That those publicans and posting-masters who have already reduced their charges are deserving approbation and encouragement.” In an advertisement published on April 24th the post-masters stated that from the heavy duties imposed upon carriages, the first expense of chaises and their repair, the increased price of horses and of smith’s work, they could not, without great injury to themselves and their families, make any abatement in the charge of fifteen pence (which included the payment of a duty of 3d.) per mile, they having been considerable losers during the previous two years.
27.—Died, at Melton Constable, Sir Edward Astley, Bart., who represented Norfolk in four successive Parliaments. He was succeeded in the title and estates by Sir J. H. Astley, his only surviving son by his first wife, the eldest sister of John Lord Delaval, of Seaton Delaval, Northumberland.
30.—News was received of the Definite Treaty of Peace having been signed at Amiens, on March 27th, by the Marquis Cornwallis and Buonaparte. The Norwich Loyal Military Associations assembled at St. Andrew’s Hall. “Instead of field-pieces and ammunition waggons the martial divisions were preceded in their march from the Hall to the Market Place by two brewers’ drays, laden with six barrels of Norwich porter, which were drunk with much joy.”