20.—Two prisoners, named Smith and Middleton, escaped from the Norwich City Gaol. “One lowered himself by a rope of blankets from the cell, and the other leaped down a depth of 25 ft., by which he sprained his ankle, so that they got no further than Dereham, where they were both retaken on the 22nd.”
24.—At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the benefit of Mr. Smith, “an entirely new drama written for the occasion by T. Dibden, called ‘The Factory.’” The performance concluded with a new drama, also acted for the first time, entitled, “Margaret of Ragensburg,” written by Mr. G. Smith. The plot of “The Factory” had a local setting, and the scenery, painted by Thorne, “consisted of accurate views of the Yarn
Factories at Lakenham and St. Edmund’s, and the interior of St. Andrew’s Hall at the late commemoration of Bishop Blaize.”
24.—The attainment by her Royal Highness the Princess Victoria of her legal majority on her eighteenth birthday was celebrated with much enthusiasm. The Corporation of Norwich held a special meeting, at which, on the motion of Mr. Bignold, seconded by Mr. Barwell, an address was voted to her Royal Highness. The members then proceeded in state to the Cathedral, where a special service was held and the sermon preached by Prebendary Wodehouse. Upon returning to the Guildhall, refreshments were provided by the Mayor, who, in the evening, gave a dinner at the Swan Inn. At Yarmouth a Royal salute was fired in the Roads by his Majesty’s revenue cutters; and at East Dereham the West Norfolk Conservatives celebrated the event by dining at the Assembly Rooms, under the presidency of Mr. Charles Loftus. The day was also observed in other towns and villages.
25.—At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of the Mayor, a movement was inaugurated for the erection of a monument in the Cathedral to the memory of Bishop Bathurst.
29.—The birthday of William IV. falling this year on Sunday, was celebrated, for the last time, on the following day (the 29th), the anniversary of the Restoration of Charles II.
JUNE.
3.—At the Assembly Rooms, Norwich, was exhibited “Monsieur Daguire and Co.’s celebrated grand spectacular revolving dioramic panorama, representing views of the city of Paris and the conflicts of the memorable days of July, 1830, and also the battle of Navarino.” There were ten views, each 35 ft. in width, and the whole painted on 16,000 square feet of canvas.
7.—The first annual general meeting of the proprietors of the East of England Bank was held “in the board room of the extensive premises now rapidly completing for the Bank in the Old Haymarket, Norwich.”
10.*—“Married, lately, at Stoke Dammeral, Devon, Mr. Charles Thurtell, R.N., to Ann Augusta, youngest daughter of Mr. John Morgan, surgeon, R.N.”