18.—It was announced that Mr. Robert Alderson had resigned the Recordership of Norwich. Mr. Isaac Preston, Steward of the city, was, on the 23rd, appointed to fill the vacancy. Mr. Fitzroy Kelly was appointed Steward on February 3rd, and presented with the freedom of the city on April 29th, 1831.
—Official notification was given of the completion of the Gas Works at Bishop Bridge, Norwich, and of the extended service of gas in the city.
24.—A frost commenced on Christmas-eve, and became so intense that in the course of forty-eight hours the mill-streams and rivers were frozen over, and navigation between Norwich and Yarmouth was obstructed by ice. On the night of the 26th the thermometer fell to zero, “a degree of cold never before observed in this country.” On the 27th there was a sudden change, and on the 31st the thermometer stood at 48 degrees.
25.—Died at Lakenham Grove, aged 74, Mr. Joseph Gurney, banker, of Norwich. At the funeral in the Gildencroft burial-ground, “Mr. J. J. Gurney and Mrs. Fry offered up impressive prayers.”
1831.
JANUARY.
1.—The non-commissioned officers and privates of the 1st Royal Dragoons were entertained by public subscription at dinner at the Assembly Rooms, East Dereham, in recognition of their services during the recent disturbances.
5.—Died at Hilborough Hall, aged 54, Mr. Ralph Caldwell. “He was among the first promoters of the Norfolk Foxhunting Society.”
—The calendar of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions contained the names of 205 prisoners, of whom 108 were indicted for taking part in the machine-breaking riots during November and December, 1830. The trials, which took place before Mr. Serjeant Frere, Lord Suffield, and other magistrates, concluded on the 12th. Sixty-seven of the rioters were found guilty of machine-breaking, and 41 were acquitted or otherwise discharged. One was sentenced to 14 years’ transportation; 8 to seven years; 1 to two years’ imprisonment; 1 to fifteen months; 4 to one year; 5 to nine months; 10 to six months; 6 to four months; 14 to three months; 8 to two months; 4 to one month, and 1 to fourteen days. Fifty were charged with rioting and other outrages. Of these, 18 were discharged on their own recognisances;
9 were acquitted, and 23 convicted. One was sentenced to imprisonment for two and a half years; 2 for two years; 3 for eighteen months; 4 for one year; 2 for six months; 3 for four months; 4 for three months; 2 for one month; 1 for three weeks; and 1 for one week. There were reserved for a higher tribunal three capital offences of machine-breaking, and five or six cases of arson.