18.—A gang of convicts, when travelling by coach from Lynn to London, made a desperate effort to escape. During the greater part of the journey the keepers stood over them with cocked pistols. On the coach arriving in town a London mob endeavoured to rescue the prisoners, “but the keepers presented so formidable an appearance that they were able to lodge the convicts in Newgate previous to their removal to the hulks.”
20.—Mr. Silvers, tide surveyor at Yarmouth, after a chase of five miles, captured on Breydon a 39 ft. smuggling galley, manned by a crew of nine hands. The smugglers effected their escape, but left behind them 283 half ankers of proof brandy, and about 6,000 lbs. of tobacco.
23.—The centre and south wing of Cromer Hall, the seat of Mr. Geo. Windham, was destroyed by fire. The damage was estimated at £12,000.
24.—During a severe gale off Yarmouth, a vessel foundered, and eight hands perished.
28.—The Rev. Thomas Kidd, M.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, was elected by the Court of Aldermen head master of the Free Grammar School, Norwich.
DECEMBER.
13.—Died at East Dereham, aged 85, Mr. James Philo, who had filled the office of parish clerk for fifty years. (“The dignified High Church clerk” in “Lavengro.”)
21.—The Crim. Con. action, Muskett v. Gurney, tried at the Thetford Assizes in 1818, was re-opened in the Court of King’s Bench, when further evidence was adduced on behalf of the plaintiff, to whom the jury awarded £2,000 damages. (May 17th, 1830: “Married, at St. Mary’s, Marylebone, Richard Hanbury Gurney, to Mary, only daughter of Mr. William Jary, of Burlingham.”)
—A meeting of 200 insurers in the Norwich Equitable Insurance Office was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, “for the purpose of taking into consideration the conduct and management of the funds of the society, and of dissolving the institution, with the view of the just redistribution of the funds, the formation of a new society under a more protective management and control.” Mr. Skipper was elected registrar and secretary of the new society.
26.—The pantomime, “Punch’s Festival, or Harlequin Christmas-box,” was produced at Norwich Theatre, under the superintendence of Mr. T. Hill, of Drury Lane Theatre. Mr. Thorne painted “a grand moving panorama, commencing with a view of the intended Port of Norwich (ships lying in the basin), leading through the valley of Thorpe, embracing Col. Harvey’s house (Thorpe Hall), Hinsby’s Gardens, and intermediate scenery to Lake Lothing, and concluded with the grand junction lock at Lowestoft in its present state.” The last scene, “Norwich a Port,” concluded with “a grand display of fireworks by Chevalier Southby, of the Royal Gardens, Vauxhall, and the London theatres.”