received the medal for Badajos, and was shot through the ankle joint at the siege of Burgos, in October, 1812. He entered the service as second-lieutenant on August 30th, 1798, and retired with the rank of major-general on January 10th, 1837.
27.—Yarmouth Orange Fair was held. “Like the generality of fairs, it has fallen sadly out of repute, and but for the immense quantity of fruit from which it takes its name anyone might have passed the Market Place without noticing it.”
MARCH.
17.—At a special meeting of the Norwich Town Council, on the motion of Mr. A. Dalrymple, a petition to Parliament was adopted in opposition to the Income Tax, on the ground that it was “unjust, unwise, repugnant, and unproductive.”
18.—The Watton coach, on its way from Norwich, with six female outside passengers, stopped at Barford Cock. During the temporary absence of Allen, the coachman, the horses started off at full gallop, and were not stopped till they arrived at Hingham. With the exception of a wheel being taken off a passing vehicle, no damage was done.
APRIL.
4.—At the Norwich Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal, was tried the case, the Queen against Edward Painter. The prosecution, for assault, was instituted by Mr. Jeremiah Cross, corn merchant, of Norwich. An indictment had been preferred at the Norwich Quarter Sessions and a true bill returned, which the defendant removed by writ of certiorari, and the case now came on for trial on the civil side of the Court. The plaintiff, in June, 1842, was invited to the Rising Sun Inn, kept by Mr. John Abel, and he was there met by Painter, who for several minutes thrashed him with an ash stick so severely that for a considerable time afterwards plaintiff was under medical treatment. For the defence it was alleged that Cross had grossly insulted the defendant’s daughter, hence the thrashing. The jury found a verdict of guilty, and on May 10th, when defendant appeared before the Court of Queen’s Bench to receive judgment, he was fined one shilling and discharged. On June 24th the following advertisement was published: “Ned Painter having been subjected to the expense of wanton and persecuting litigation, his friends intend giving him a benefit at the Pantheon, Royal Victoria Gardens, on which occasion the Stars of the Fancy have resolved to rally round and support an old and tried veteran of the Prize Ring. Among the prominent professors of the Pugilistic Art who will appear are Tom Spring, Champion of England, and Ben Caunt, the modern champion.”
7.—Great excitement was created in Norwich by the conviction at the Assizes before Mr. Justice Coleridge, of John Harper, a well-known auctioneer, on the charge of stealing cloth entrusted to him for sale at North Walsham by a Leeds manufacturer named Jonas Driver. Mr. S. Bignold, Mr. Beckwith, solicitor; Mr. T. M. Keith, solicitor; the Rev. S. Stone, the Rev. W. Hull, and other prominent citizens testified
to the general honesty and integrity of the prisoner, who, amid a strong manifestation of feeling in Court, was sentenced to seven years’ transportation.
7.—Mr. Cobden, M.P., Col. Thompson, and Mr. Moore, representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League, addressed a large meeting held at St. Andrew’s Hall, under the presidency of Mr. J. H. Tillett. A body of Chartists created some disorder. On the 8th a meeting of farmers “of the most complete party complexion” took place at the Hall, when Mr. A. Morse, of Swaffham, “author of one of the prize essays of the League,” presided, and addresses were delivered by Mr. Cobden and his friends. The League at this date was actively promulgating its principles in all parts of the county.