29.—Louis XVIII., travelling as Count de Lille, arrived off Yarmouth in a Swedish frigate, and landed on November 2nd. He was accompanied by the Duke D’Angoulême, the Duke de Berri, and by other representatives of the French nobility.
—A severe storm occurred off the Norfolk coast, and several transports were lost at Yarmouth, where Admiral Gambier arrived with 32 sail of the line, several Dutch prizes, and a great number of frigates.
31.*—“The Militia ballot has commenced. The quota for Norfolk and Norwich is 907.”
—At the Old Bailey, J. Hopgrave was indicted for an assault, with intent to murder his Majesty’s officers of Excise in a smuggling affray at Cawston. The ringleader, one Jeremiah Abel, was convicted at the Old Bailey some months previously. Hopgrave succeeded in proving an alibi, and was acquitted. On December 8th, Richard Wiseman, of the Three Pigs, at Edgefield, was charged at the Old Bailey with obstructing the Excise officers at the same time. He also was acquitted on proving an alibi.
At the end of this month a shooting party at Holkham killed in three days 1,457 head of game. The party included Mr. Coke, the Marquis of Tavistock, Lords Albemarle, Spencer, Althorpe, Anson, and Bradford, Generals Walpole and Keppel, Sir J. Shelly, Col. Keppel, Messrs. W. Smith, Churchill, Collet, Wilbraham, W. Fitzroy, and Smith. Mr. Coke killed 60 the first day, 66 the second, and 70 the third.
NOVEMBER.
4.—A large barn full of barley in the straw, and a stack of barley, the property of General Money, of Trowse, were destroyed by fire, caused by an incendiary, named Thomas Sutton. At the Assizes, held at Thetford, on March 21st, 1808, before Mr. Justice Grose, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. He had eight years
previously been sentenced to seven years’ transportation for stealing a pony belonging to the general, and his father had suffered death for horse stealing. “At the trial he behaved in a most audacious manner to the judge, and when sentenced requested the Sheriff to let him be taken to Norwich that he might be hanged amongst his friends.” He was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, April 9th, 1808.
—An entertainment was given by Lord and Lady Cholmondeley to upwards of 300 persons at Houghton Hall. The great hall was converted into a theatre for the performance of an opera written by Mr. Panton. The performers included the author, Miss Wood, Lord Malpas, and the Messrs. Lanyas. Between the acts Lady Charlotte Cholmondeley and Miss Cholmondeley played a pianoforte duet. The opera was preceded by an address, spoken by Lord Malpas, and was followed by a dance and supper.
7.*—“Nathaniel Easthaugh, bellman in Norwich, in gratitude for having had possession of the city bell for 27 years (one year only excepted), has liberally subscribed the sum of ten guineas towards the new pavement, he being at times unable, through infirmity, to walk over the old one.”