27.—Died at his house, Vauxhall, Lambeth, Mr. Thomas H. Hull, aged 74, “a gentleman well-known in Norwich and Norfolk for a great number of years, and where many of his beautifully-executed pictures remain as specimens of his superior talent in the miniature department of portrait painting.”
MAY.
1.—Mr. Angell and Mr. Patteson were nominated for the Mayoralty of Norwich. Mr. W. Wilde nominated Mr. Alderman Thurtell, the senior alderman below the chair; and Mr. Alderman Yallop was also proposed. A poll was demanded, and the result was declared as follows: Thurtell, 1,144; Yallop, 1,148; Angell, 1,042; Patteson, 979. Application was made by Messrs. Angell and Patteson for the reopening of the books on the following morning, when the voting was: Thurtell, 1,210; Yallop, 1,212; Angell, 1,097; Patteson, 1,020. The Court of Aldermen subsequently elected Mr. Thurtell.
5.—A public meeting was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. Finch), at which resolutions were passed affirming that it was objectionable to continue bounties on the export of sugar and prohibitory duties on the produce of Colonial free labour, by which slavery was supported at the expense of the British public. It was also decided to petition Parliament to repeal such bounties and duties, and to take measures to ensure the immediate alleviation and the ultimate extinction of British Colonial slavery. The petition, which was signed by 10,125 persons, measured 150 feet in length, and was presented in the House of Commons by Mr. William Smith.
6.—A new theatre was opened at North Walsham by Mr. Fisher, with the performance of the comic opera, “Sweethearts and Wives,” and the musical farce of “The Turnpike Gate.”
8.—Died at Tittleshall, Mr. Thomas Riches, farmer, aged 69. “In his early life he for many years, by being pressed from Lynn, served his country at sea, and was in many distinguished actions. He was at Gibraltar, at the Chesapeak with Hood, in the same ship with our present Lord High Admiral, then a boy; and was in the Formidable (flagship) with Sir George, afterwards Lord Rodney, in the memorable battle of 1782, when M. De Grasse was taken. On his discharge and his return to his native county, he embraced farming for a livelihood, and always retained many of the peculiarities and superstitions of a sailor’s life.”
27.—The first seaborne vessel from London to Norwich port direct, the Thames steam packet, Capt. John Morley, arrived at Carrow Bridge. She was of 120 tons burden, 82 feet in length, and handsomely fitted up for the accommodation of passengers. The duration of her voyage was 28 hours.
—The Norwich Corporation decided to rebuild Fye Bridge of iron, in accordance with the plans of Mr. Stone. The foundation-stone of the new bridge was laid by the Mayor (Mr. Thurtell) on June 2nd, 1829.
JUNE.
9.—Mr. Kean, jun., made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre in the character of Romeo. During his engagement he appeared also as Jaffier (“Venice Preserved”) and Felix (“Hunter of the Alps”). “It is difficult, indeed, to imagine,” says the critic, “what besides an irresistible penchant for the stage and an hereditary attachment for the most elevated dramatic work, could have induced this gentleman to choose the profession of a tragedian. Of a stature rather below the middle size, and with a countenance that forms no index of the heroic mind, the younger Kean seems studious of displaying all those peculiarities of attitude, action, and intonation which we have been accustomed to regard rather as defects than as excellencies in his justly celebrated father. The genius of the elder Kean does not shine forth in his son.”