11.—The Earl of Leicester laid the foundation-stone of the new quay at Wells-next-the-Sea.
16.—A platform was erected on the summit of the spire of Norwich Cathedral by a party of Sappers and Miners, to support an observatory for the purpose of the trigonometrical survey then being made throughout the kingdom, by order of the Board of Ordnance.
23.*—“Died, lately, aged 101, Mr. Robert Holmes, of St. Augustine’s, Norwich.”
27.—Died at Ramsgate, Lieut.-General Beevor. He was the last surviving son of Mr. James Beevor, of Norwich. He served in Flanders in the campaigns of 1793–4–5; in 1801–2 he was actively employed in Egypt, and he took part in the protracted operations in the Peninsula and Portugal.
OCTOBER.
2.—Mrs. Fitzwilliam, of Covent Garden Theatre, commenced a six nights’ engagement at the Theatre Royal, Norwich. She was described as the first comic actress of the day and a most accomplished vocalist. On the 7th Mrs. Fitzwilliam was joined by Mr. Buckstone, of the Haymarket Theatre, with whom she appeared in “My Tender Charge” and “Foreign Airs and Native Graces.”
14.—In a case before the county justices at the Shirehall, Norwich, in which the keeper of Hellesdon toll-bar was summoned for unlawfully taking toll in respect of a vehicle called a “wheel machine,” interesting particulars were given of the contrivance, which belonged to a Norwich mechanic named Matthew Fish. It was described as “only a barrow worked by the feet, and not propelled by machinery.” The carriage was shown outside the Court, and “appeared to be a very ingenious machine, which could be worked at the rate of ten miles an hour on a level road.” It had three wheels and two levers. Mr. Repton, the clerk to the turnpike trustees, urged that the narrow wheels cut up the road more than those of heavy carriages, and that such contrivances for evading toll and the keeping of horses were increasing. These carriages were considered a nuisance on the roads, no horses liked to pass them, and the Act laid a heavy toll upon them to prevent them running on any turnpike at all. The matter was ultimately settled without a conviction.
16.—Carter, the “Lion King,” appeared at Norwich Theatre with his trained lions, &c., in a drama founded on the adventures of Mungo Park. “The submissive bearing with which they crouched to the lash and the utter want of animation and spirit which they exhibited, divested the exhibition of all sense of danger.”
17.—A severe gale occurred on the Norfolk coast, several vessels were driven ashore, and five lives were lost off Bacton.
23.—The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry paraded at East Dereham and received from the Lord Lieutenant of the county a standard, in commemoration of the honour conferred upon it by Prince Albert, in allowing the corps to be called after his name. “The helmets, which formerly were fronted with the Maltese Cross, now exhibit the Royal Arms.”