12.—William Thirkettle, 27; William Pye, 32; and Gilpin Reynolds, 24, were executed on Castle Hill, Norwich, the first-named for the attempted murder of his wife, and the others for arson.
14.—The two troops of the King’s Own Light Dragoons marched from Norwich for Hampton Court and Kensington Barracks.
25.—The Yarmouth Port and Haven Bill was considered by the House of Commons’ Committee, presided over by Mr. William Windham. On the 28th the petitioners announced the abandonment of the Bill.
30.—The Bishop of Rochester, officiating for the Bishop of Norwich (who was then in his 90th year), confirmed 1,700 persons at North Walsham. On subsequent days 1,000 were confirmed at Holt, and 1,050 at Diss.
—Fifty-four convicts, sentenced at the County Assizes and Sessions to transportation, were taken on board the Sarah (Capt. Moore), lying in Norwich river. “The hatchways were closed at twenty minutes after two in the morning, and this London trader sailed immediately for Lowestoft, which harbour was reached about eleven o’clock; in three hours the vessel was out of sight and on her way to Portsmouth. Their being sent off by sea (through the Norwich and Lowestoft Navigation) instead of by land conveyance will be a very considerable saving of expense to the county of Norfolk.”
MAY.
1.—Mr. Charles Turner and Mr. William Moore were returned to the Court of Aldermen, who elected the former as Mayor of Norwich for the year ensuing.
—May Day was celebrated at Lynn with the usual display of garlands and devices emblematical of the season, by persons arrayed in fancy costumes.
5.—Two troops of the 2nd Queen’s Dragoon Guards, under the command of Major Kearney, marched into Norwich Barracks from Nottingham, to relieve the 3rd Dragoons, who, on the same day, marched for Ipswich.
8.—The leading postmasters of Norwich announced that they had reduced the rate of posting to 1s. 4d. per mile.