25.—The Mayor of Norwich (Mr. Jeremiah Colman) turned the first sod on the Norwich extension of the Ipswich and Bury Railway. The ceremony took place on Mr. Cyrus Gillett’s farm in the parish of Markshall. Several gentlemen filled barrows with earth, which other gentlemen, including the Sheriff (Mr. Charles Winter) wheeled away—a proceeding which elicited from Mr. Willett the remark that “if they went on at that rate they would leave little work for the navvies to do.” The company then assembled for luncheon, under the presidency of Mr. A. Ogilvie, and many congratulatory speeches were made. (See November 7th, 1849.)
28.—The shop of Mr. Cooper, silversmith and jeweller, London Street, Norwich, was broken into and goods of the total value of £2,000 stolen.
MARCH.
4.—Died at his residence, in St. Giles’, Norwich, Dr. Edward Lubbock, aged 43. He was the younger son of Dr. Richard Lubbock, and was educated at the Free Grammar School, under Valpy. He commenced his medical studies under Dr. Skrimshire at Peterborough, became a student at Guy’s Hospital, and afterwards proceeded to Edinburgh University, where he took his degree as M.D. His devotion to the study of anatomy and physiology led him, conjointly with Mr. Nichols, to establish in Norwich, about 1830, a school for dissection. He was one of the physicians of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and of the Bethel.
10.—A public meeting, presided over by the Mayor, was held at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, “to oppose the oppressive operation of the present Law of Settlement upon the industrious poor.” Petitions were presented to Parliament praying for the abolition of the system, and demanding that the poor should be relieved out of a national fund.
15.—Died, in his 92nd year, the Rev. Stephen Allen, for 56 years minister of St Margaret’s, Lynn. “In early life Mr. Allen was a pupil of Archdeacon Paley, and by his mother’s marriage with the celebrated Dr. Burney he enjoyed frequent opportunities of mixing in that brilliant circle of which Madame D’Arblay was at once the life and the ornament.”
24.—A public fast and humiliation were observed in Norwich.
30.—An inquest was held at Tibenham, by Mr. Pilgrim, one of the County Coroners, on the bodies of Mrs. Pearson and Mrs. Everett, the wives of farmers living in that parish. Several deaths had occurred under mysterious circumstances, and in these two cases post-mortem examinations revealed the fact that death was due to arsenical poisoning. The inquiry was several times adjourned, and on May 13th the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the women died from poison wilfully administered by some person or persons unknown.
APRIL.
3.—The new road from the bottom of Long John’s Hill to Lakenham Mills, with the bridges and viaduct beyond the mills, was completed