19.—Died, Mrs. Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, widow of General Bulwer, of Heydon Hall, and daughter and sole heiress of Richard Warburton Lytton, of Knebworth Park, Herts. “She was mother of the Ambassador at Madrid, of Sir Edward, who succeeds to the estates, and of Mr. W. L. Bulwer, of Heydon Hall. The literary tastes and accomplishments of Mrs. Bulwer Lytton may have had an influence in early life upon her son’s mind. Many poems of hers circulated amongst her immediate friends are full of feeling and grace.”
26.—The report on the Christmas trade at Norwich stated that the stage coaches conveyed 3,036 hampers of game and poultry to London. Sykes’ waggons in five days conveyed to the Metropolitan market 68 tons of meat, game, and poultry, from Norfolk and Suffolk.
—For the first time for many years, Norwich Theatre opened on Boxing Day. The programme included “The Stranger,” “Cherry Bounce,” and the pantomime “Harlequin Baron Munchausen.” The other Christmas attractions were Batty’s Equestrian Company at the Pantheon, Victoria Gardens, and Wombwell’s Menagerie on the Castle Meadow.
1844.
JANUARY.
9.—A meeting was held at Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. T. Brightwell, at which it was resolved to raise a subscription to pay the legal expenses of Mr. John Francis and of four other recusants, proceeded against in the Court of Arches for failing to make a rate for repairing the parish church of St. George Colegate. When the case was heard in the Arches Court, counsel for Mr. Francis protested that upon the face of the citation it did not appear that he had been guilty of any ecclesiastical offence cognisable by the Court, neither did it appear that the parish church was in need of repair. These arguments
were overruled by the Court, whereupon Mr. Francis took the case to the Court of Queen’s Bench, and on May 9th Mr. Justice Denman delivered judgment in favour of the appellant, on the ground that the citation was bad, because of there being no adequate allegation of any spiritual offence.
13.—Mr. H. J. Wallack, of Drury Lane Theatre, formerly a member of the Norwich circuit, and Mrs. Wallack, commenced an operatic engagement at Norwich Theatre, in the “Barber of Seville.”
FEBRUARY.
3.—In the Court of Exchequer, before Lord Abinger and a special jury, an information was heard against three persons named Phillips, of Swanton Abbot, for the recovery of penalties for a violation of the Excise laws by means of illicit distillation. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. It was stated that defendants had rendered themselves liable to penalties amounting to £12,000, but the Crown would be satisfied with a verdict for one penalty of £200, which, trebled, amounted to £600. Judgment was then entered for the last-named sum.