24.—Died at Hare Street, Romford, Mr. Humphrey Repton, the celebrated landscape gardener. He was buried at Aylsham.
26.—The organ at Swaffham church was opened by Mr. Beckwith, of Norwich. Selections of sacred music were rendered at the church, and in the evening a miscellaneous concert was given in the Assembly-room. The principal vocalists were Mrs. Card, Miss Williams, Mr. C. Fisher (tenor), and the choristers from Norwich Cathedral.
31.—Married, at Redenhall Church, by the Ven. Archdeacon Oldershaw, Mr. Gurney Barclay, of Tavistock Square, London, to Miss Freshfield, of Harleston. “On the bride’s return the horses were taken from her carriage, and, amid the cheering of the delighted people, she was drawn, attended by a band of music, through the town.”
APRIL.
5.—The London mail by way of Bury and Newmarket was discontinued, and two light four-inside coaches, called the Mercury, substituted, starting from the Angel Inn, Norwich, at 4.45 p.m., and from the Golden Cross, Charing Cross, London, at six p.m., Sundays excepted. The proprietors of the Expedition post coach substituted two light post coaches which ran from the Swan Inn, Norwich, every afternoon at four o’clock, and from the White Horse, Fetter Lane, London, at 4.30. The mail by Bury and Newmarket had been established 33 years, and was discontinued from lack of public support. The Norwich and London mail by Ipswich and Colchester continued to run as before.
8.—The Eau Brink Drainage Bill was read a third time in the House of Commons, and the Act was subsequently passed for increasing
the fund for carrying into execution the several previous Acts for improving the drainage of the fens, and the navigation of the several Norfolk rivers communicating with the river Ouse.
11.—Six prisoners escaped from the Norwich City Gaol by breaking through an 18-inch brick wall, whence they entered the snuff manufactory of Messrs. Waite and Cozens, and with their irons on made their way to the Market Place. With one exception they were speedily recaptured.
—*“According to the returns of the Tax Office to March 25, 1817, the Norfolk Land-tax amounted to £63,471 10s. 7d.; redeemed, £18,526 16s. 2d.”
14.—The Norwich Paving Commissioners, in consequence of complaints regarding the imperfect lighting and watching of the streets, appointed a committee of fourteen of their members, and co-opted other persons, to superintend the placing of the watchmen. The committee were requested to “occasionally perambulate the city, and to observe the state of the lamps and the conduct of the watchmen.”