21.—Died in St. Stephen’s, Norwich, aged 65, Mr. William Moore. He served the office of Sheriff in 1824, and of Mayor in 1835. Mr. Moore was the last Mayor elected by the old Corporation before the Municipal Corporations Act came into force.
24.—The weather on this day was only ten degrees colder than on June 24th. “The thermometer out of doors remained at 50.”
28.*—“One night last week some persons stole from the church at Swardeston one of the bells. The rogues broke the bell to pieces on the spot, and although the blows must have made a great noise, the villagers were not alarmed, and the sacrilegious depredators were enabled to carry off their booty unmolested.”
1840.
JANUARY.
1.—At the Norwich Quarter Sessions, before the Recorder, Mr. Jermy, James Ollett Marshall and James Darkin were indicted for publishing in a paper called “The Searcher” a libellous article on Mr. Sparkall, of Norwich. Marshall was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, and Darkin fined £5.
4.—Died at Hempnall, in his 101st year, William Reed, cordwainer.
7.—A prize-fight took place on Pulham North Green, between Cricknell and Cain. After six rounds had been fought, Cricknell was taken into custody by the “Rural Police,” conveyed to Harleston, and bound over to keep the peace for twelve months. “The concourse of persons was not so numerous as has been noticed on similar occasions. Whether this arose from the necessary secrecy of the scene of action, on account of the declared intentions of the magistrates to put a stop to these demoralising sights, or the early hour (ten o’clock) the combatants set-to, cannot be fully determined. But that these brutal attacks are fast declining in the estimation of the middle classes may be fairly presumed by the paucity in number and the circuitous route taken by many of them to the battlefield.”
10.—The Penny Postage “came into operation this day, according to the official regulations. Our advertising friends and correspondents will also be pleased to observe that unless the penny postage be prepaid the expense of them will be double on their orders or communications. Since the ‘schoolmaster has been abroad’ the plural of penny is twopence. A letter not exceeding half-an-ounce in weight may be sent from any part of the United Kingdom to any other part for one penny, if paid when posted, or for twopence if paid when delivered.” On January 18th it was announced “the penny postage reduction has about trebled the number of letters in Norwich and in other towns, but printed circulars have formed a great proportion of this temporary
increase. A tradesman in this city, we are informed, has sent out several thousands of such penny postpaid circulars.”