7.—A two-days’ cricket match, between the Marylebone Club and Ground and the County of Norfolk (with Wisden) commenced at Swaffham. The principal scores for the former were made by the Hon. E. Grimstone and the Hon. F. Ponsonby, and for the latter by Mr. Charles Wright, the Rev. F. French, and Wisden. Marylebone, 84-76; Norfolk, 106-56.
11.—The East Anglian Railway from Lynn and Swaffham was opened for passenger traffic to Dereham.
—Miss Helen Faucit commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. She was supported by Mr. W. Shelley, from the Park Theatre, New York, and by Mr. H. Farren.
—H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, who visited Norwich for the purpose of attending the Triennial Musical Festival, arrived at Trowse Station, where he was received by the Mayor (Mr. G. L. Coleman) and
the Sheriff (Mr. J. Watson), who were attended by the principal officers of the Corporation, mounted. “The four whifflers, in proper dress, created much merriment by brandishing their weapons to keep a passage, but they had not the agile grace of the old retainers of our ancient Corporation, and the procession, though the best we have seen in Norwich since the Municipal Reform Act passed, fell short of that imposing dignity which graced our ancient displays of civic pomp.” His Royal Highness, who was the guest of the Bishop of Norwich, left the city on the 15th.
12.—The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced at St. Andrew’s Hall, with a grand evening concert, at which selections from “Il Matrimonio Segreto” and from “Le Nozzi di Figaro” were given. The following were the principal items in the week’s programme:—Sept. 13th, “The Christian’s Prayer” and selections from “The Creation”; evening, “The First Walpurgis Night” and selections from “La Clemenza di Tito”; Sept. 14th, “Elijah”; evening, selection from “Fidelio,” &c.; Sept. 15th, “Davidde Penitente” and “Israel in Egypt.” In the evening a dress ball was given, at which Jullien’s band performed. The principal vocalists at the Festival were Madame Viardot Garcia, Madame Castellan, Mdlle. Alboni, Miss Anne Williams, Miss Martha Williams, Mr. Sims Reeves, Mr. Lockey, Mr. H. Phillips, Mr. H. Whitmore, and Signor Lablache. Mr. H. Blagrove was leader of the band, Mr. Benedict conductor, and Mr. Harcourt organist. The gross receipts were £5,266 4s. 2d.; the gross expenses £4,598 10s. 7d., and the net surplus £667 13s. 9d.
21.—Lord George Bentinck, M.P., was discovered dead on a footpath at Thoresby, about six miles from his seat at Welbeck. The Coroner’s jury found that death was due to heart disease. The deceased nobleman was first elected for King’s Lynn in 1828, in succession to his uncle, Lord William Bentinck. He had previously acted as private secretary to Mr. Canning, a near relative by marriage. His lordship was the recognised leader of the Protectionist party, and as a firm supporter of the Turf did much to reform the abuses which existed upon it in his time. The vacancy created by his death in the representation of Lynn was filled by the election of the Hon. E. H. Stanley, who was returned without opposition on December 22nd.
23.—Under the provisions of the new Tavern Act, the public-houses in Norwich were closed at 12 p.m. “The streets in the lower parts of the city and all round the Market Place were crowded with persons returning home with pots of malt liquor.” On the 25th informations were preferred against many publicans for failing to close their houses at the prescribed time.
28.—Died at Pulham, aged 43, Mr. R. B. Harvey, a well-known flock-master, who did much to improve the breed of sheep in Norfolk. He was a frequent exhibitor at the shows of the Royal Agricultural Society and of the local agricultural associations.