1.—On this date was published the first of the series of remarkable accounts describing the ghostly visitations at Syderstone Parsonage, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Stewart, curate, and rector of Thwaite.
3.—Died, aged 101, Richard Smith, of Swanton Morley.
18.—The Guild Day festivities at Norwich, on the occasion of the swearing in as Mayor of Mr. Samuel Bignold, were attended by Viscount Stormont, M.P., and Sir James Scarlett, M.P., the latter of whom took his oath as an honorary freeman of the city. The Mayor entertained 1,100 guests at the Guild feast at St. Andrew’s Hall, and upwards of 500 attended the ball at the Assembly Rooms, where the dancing was opened by the Mayor and Miss Wodehouse, daughter of the Lord Lieutenant.
19.—Two orange and purple banners, designed by a member of the College of Arms, were presented by the Conservative ladies of Norwich to Viscount Stormont, M.P., and Sir James Scarlett, M.P. The ceremony took place at the Guildhall, where a large company was entertained by the Mayor.
20.—Upwards of 750 electors in the “Orange and Purple” interest were entertained at dinner at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich. A second contingent, numbering 1,000, dined there on the 21st. Mr. W. J. Utten Browne presided on both occasions, and Lord Stormont, M.P., was also present. The dinners were provided by public subscription.
JULY.
7.—During a severe thunderstorm “a fire-ball, apparently about the size of a man’s head,” fell upon the thatched roof of the Black Tower, Butter Hills, Norwich. The middle and lower rooms, occupied by a person named Brooks, and the upper storey, where a society of artisans assembled for astronomical observations, were entirely consumed. The society’s valuable apparatus were destroyed.
15.—The resuscitated race meeting at Holkham was attended by 10,000 spectators. The races were held on the sands. “By the time the hunters’ stakes had been decided the tide was fast approaching, and the leading people retired to a booth, where dinner was served, under the presidency of Mr. Brown, of Pudding Norton. The tide retiring, the company again occupied the sands.”
17.—The Bishop of Lincoln, officiating for the Bishop of Norwich, confirmed 2,000 persons at East Dereham church. On the following day his lordship administered the rite to 2,068 persons at Norwich Cathedral; and on the 19th to 1,100 at Redenhall.
18.—A single wicket match between Fuller Pilch and T. Marsdon took place on the Norwich Cricket Ground. Pilch won, by 70 runs. The return match was played on Hyde Park Ground, Sheffield, on August 5th, when Pilch won by 128 runs.