16.—The Invincible, of 74 guns (built in 1766), Rear-Admiral Totty, on her way to join the grand fleet, got on the Ridge, near Happisburgh Sand, and remained there till daybreak next morning, when she floated off. On entering deep water she went down immediately, with several officers and 300 men. Daniel Grigson, master of the Nancy cod-smack, saved seven officers and about 190 of the crew. At a Court Martial held at Sheerness, on March 31st, on Admiral Totty and the surviving officers and crew, it was proved that the disaster occurred through the ignorance of the pilot, and a verdict of honourable acquittal was returned.
19.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose, the action, the King v. Augustus Beevor, clerk, was tried. The information was filed against the defendant by leave of the Court of King’s Bench, for sending a challenge to Major Edward Payne, in consequence of a dispute that had taken place between the Major and the defendant’s father. Defendant, referring to this dispute, wrote to Major Payne, demanding an apology, “or he should be under the necessity of compelling it by a mode generally used among gentlemen.” No notice was taken of the letter, and the defendant meeting Major Payne in the Market Place at Norwich told him publicly that “the contempt he had for his character protected his person.” The defendant was found guilty, and at the next term of the Court of King’s Bench (May 7) was sentenced to three weeks’ imprisonment in the King’s Bench Prison, and ordered to enter into his own recognisances of £500, to find two sureties of £250 each, and to be of good behaviour for three years.
20.*—“The remains of Miss Sophia Goddard, of the Theatre Royal, Norwich, were interred at St. Peter Mancroft. Mr. Hindes, the manager, and the principal actors attended on the melancholy occasion. This young lady had obtained considerable reputation on the Norwich boards, and was making rapid advance to eminence in her profession when death prematurely deprived the theatrical world of an actress whose talents would have ensured her success on any stage. She supported with great fortitude and resignation a long and painful illness, brought on by exertions that her constitution was unequal to, and died on Sunday last (March 15), in her 26th year, sincerely beloved and lamented by her family and friends.”
Wheat this month rose to 180s. per quarter.
APRIL.
3.—Died at the Cavalry Barracks, Norwich, Lieut. Robert Scully, 13th Light Dragoons. His remains were interred on Sunday, April 4th, with military honours, at St. Peter Mancroft.
4.—Died at Cambridge, Mrs. Lloyd, widow of Dean Lloyd, aged 79. “Her performances in needlework were so exquisitely wrought that they may justly be compared with the paintings of the most celebrated artists. The Transfiguration and other figures represented in the eastern windows of Norwich Cathedral have displayed the superior skill of her personal attainments.”
—Mousehold Heath, Norwich, was enclosed and cultivated. Plots of land were afterwards let at 25s. per acre.
—John Allen (23) and John Day (26), for burglary at the house of the Rev. Isaac Horsley, at North Walsham; Richard Grafton, for stealing a cow and three heifers; and James Chettleburgh (36), for stealing six sheep at Saxlingham, were executed at Thetford. “Day confessed to having committed four burglaries previous to that for which he suffered, and to having deserted thirteen times from different regiments.”
—In consequence of objections being made to the elections of Messrs. Staff and Proctor in the Wymer Ward, and of Messrs. Brittan and Scott in the Northern Ward, Norwich, on the ground of their being ineligible under the Corporation Act, having omitted to receive the Sacrament within a year previous to the election of Common Council, the Mayor did not make the returns till several days after the usual time. At a Court held on this day, the Recorder (Mr. Harvey), after the objections had been fully argued by counsel, declared that the persons objected to, who had the majority of votes, having omitted to come into Court according to summons, were not duly elected; but, as no regular notice had been given previous to the election, the candidates in the minority could not be returned. On May 2nd a rule was moved for in the Court of King’s Bench, to show cause why a mandamus should not be directed to the Mayor of Norwich to admit Mr. George Wymer into the office of Common Councilman of the city. Similar motions were made on behalf of Messrs. Bacon, Cooke, Fiske, and Webster, the other defeated candidates. “Lord Kenyon desired counsel to take rule to show cause, and to serve the rule not only on the Mayor, but also on those persons who were elected in fact, but not de jure.” On May 13th, Lord Kenyon confirmed the decision of the Recorder that “neither the candidates who had the majority of votes, from their not having taken the Sacrament, nor those in the minority were duly elected.” Another election for the wards took place on May 25th and 26th.