8.—A “trial of speed” took place between the Westacre and Melton Constable hounds. “A noble stag stood before the hounds an hour and ten minutes, but from the numerous field, amounting at least to 400, the greater part of whom were shamefully riding the roads and heading the stag at every point, the sport was not brilliant. Through the greater part of the day the Westacre hounds took the lead, carried the best head, and did all the work; but from the jockeyship of Sir Jacob Astley’s huntsman in continually lifting his hounds, and numerous horsemen pressing on them in the lanes and woods, so completely frightened the Westacre hounds, which are more timid and less accustomed to such crowds than the Melton, that most of them were thrown out and could not again recover their ground.” The match took place in the neighbourhood of East Dereham.
12.—In the Court of King’s Bench, Sir James Scarlett moved for a rule to show cause why a quo warranto information should not be filed
against Mr. Angell, of Norwich, for exercising the office of alderman without being properly elected thereto. “A very ancient custom,” he said, “prevailed at Norwich on the election of aldermen, which he was sure would not, from its antiquity, receive their lordships’ sanction. It was called the cooping of voters, and consisted of taking the voters by force in a body, bribing them, giving them drink, and keeping them locked up until they consented to vote for the party on whose side they had been taken.” It was alleged that several of the supporters of Mr. Angell’s opponent (Mr. Marshall) were waylaid, carried away by force in a coach, put on board a boat on the broads, and had persons placed over them as guards. If these persons had had their liberty, Mr. Marshall, it was contended, would have been elected. Lord Tenterden granted a rule to show cause. It was abandoned, however, on April 28th, and “the bells of St. Peter rang a triumphant peal on the result being known.”
13.—A squadron of the 6th Dragoons arrived at Norwich Barracks, to replace the depôt of the 12th Lancers.
23.—A man named Bailey did penance in the chancel of Yarmouth parish church for applying an opprobrious epithet to a Mrs. Jenner. “It being a very great novelty, there was a large assemblage of persons to witness the performance of the ceremony and to hear Bailey repeat his recantations, which continued for some time, but he did not, as generally supposed, stand in a white sheet.”
MARCH.
5.—The election of a County Coroner took place at Norwich, consequent upon the resignation of Mr. C. Bringloe. Mr. E. Press, of Hingham, the successful candidate, polled 1,073 votes, as against 766 obtained by his opponent, Mr. Henry Hobart, Norwich.
17.—Died at his house in Surrey Street, Norwich, aged 68, Sir James Edward Smith, M.D., F.R.S., President of the Linnæan Society. He was born in Norwich December 2nd, 1759, proceeded to Edinburgh University in 1780, and completed his medical studies in London. In 1792 he had the honour of instructing her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Princesses in botany at Windsor. He married, in 1796, a daughter of Mr. Robert Reeve, of Lowestoft, and in 1810 received the distinction of knighthood. He was the author of “English Botany,” and other works.
18.—Mr. Macready appeared at Norwich Theatre in the part of Virginius. On subsequent evenings he performed the characters of Macbeth and William Tell.
22.*—“Died at Canton, in China, by falling overboard, Henry, son of Mr. Alderman Thurtell, of Norwich, master-at-arms of the Atlas Indiaman.”