—The Archæological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland commenced its annual meeting at Norwich. The proceedings concluded on August 5th.
30.—Lynn Election: Lord George Bentinck and Lord Jocelyn were returned unopposed.
AUGUST.
3.—East Norfolk Election: Mr. Edmond Wodehouse and Mr. Henry Negus Burroughes were returned unopposed.
6.—Mary Ann Havers, of Norwich, a girl in humble life, who possessed remarkable musical ability, died on this date. She was educated at a school supported by private subscription, where singing according to the Norwich Sol-fa system was taught, and she became one of the best organizers of village choirs ever sent out of the city. Before she was fifteen years old she went to Southampton to give instruction; thence she was invited to Salisbury, and met with successive engagements in Dorsetshire, the Isle of Wight, Staffordshire, Kent, and Warwickshire.
9.—The “London Gazette” announced that the Queen had granted to Robert Blake, of Swafield, her Royal license and authority, in compliance with a wish expressed in the will of the Rev. John Humfrey, of Wroxham, to take the surname of Humfrey immediately after that of Blake, and to quarter the arms of Humfrey with those of Blake.
10.—The railway extension from Narborough to Swaffham was opened.
10.—The nomination of candidates for the representation of West Norfolk took place at Swaffham. The Conservative procession started from Friars’ Thorns, headed by the candidates, Mr. William Bagge and Mr. H. L. S. le Strange. It extended two miles in length, and included 1,000 yeomen on horseback. The Whig procession, with the candidates, Mr. A. Hamond and the Hon. Ed. Keppel Coke at its head, started from Swaffham Splashes, and was in all respects as imposing as the other. At the nomination the show of hands was in favour of the Conservatives, and Sir William ffolkes demanded a poll for Messrs. Hamond and Coke. The polling took place on the 13th and 14th. The contest, one of the severest that had ever taken place in the county, resulted as follows:—Bagge, 3,113; Coke, 3,052; Hamond, 2,935; le Strange, 2,676.
17.—Mr. J. B. Wigham and Mr. J. L. Barber, members of the Norwich Amateur Rowing Club, launched their pair-oared boat at Villequier, on the Seine, at 2.30 p.m., and rowed to Paris, where they arrived at 9 a.m. on August 24th. The distance was upwards of 300 miles, and the actual time occupied in rowing was 57 hours 25 minutes. For more than 200 miles the men rowed against a current which flowed at four miles an hour. “Galignani’s Messenger” described it as an “unparalleled feat.”
28.—The New Adelphi Theatre, Victoria Gardens, Norwich, was opened, after extensive alterations and improvements, under the management of Mr. R. Gordon. “As You Like It” was produced, with Mr. Fred. Phillips in the part of Jacques. Mr. Phillips, who came from the Royal Pavilion Theatre, London, was subsequently editor of the “Norwich Argus.”