11.—Three troops of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers, with headquarters and band, arrived at Norwich. “Although the regiment has been formed only five years, the principal portion of the non-commissioned officers and many of the privates were engaged at Balaclava, being Volunteers from other regiments to assist in training the present regiment.”
12.—A great Volunteer fête, given at Crown Point, by the High Sheriff of Norfolk (Mr. Harvey), was attended by many thousands of spectators from all parts of the county. The city and county corps, in two brigades, commanded respectively by Lieut.-Col. Custance and Lieut.-Col. Astley, with the Norwich Light Horse, under Lieut. Hay Gurney, were reviewed by Major-General Sir Archdale Wilson, K.C.B. The Norwich Cadet Corps, recently organized by Mr. Noverre, and the Grammar School Cadet Corps, were also in attendance. After the review the troops were entertained at dinner, a balloon ascent was made by Mr. Simmons, and military and other sports followed.
17.—The foundation-stone of a new church at Hautbois Magna was laid by Lord Suffield. The new building, which was designed to supplement the old parish church, was erected mainly by the exertions of the rector (the Rev. J. C. Girling), who gave the site. The cost was estimated at from £800 to £900. The church was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich on May 26th, 1864.
OCTOBER.
6.—Died at his house, Belitha Villas, Barnsbury Park, London, Mr. John Curtis, F.L.S., aged 72. Mr. Curtis was a native of Norwich, where he resided many years. He was author of the celebrated work, “British Entomology,” on the completion of which Sir Robert Peel awarded him a pension for life.
13.—A ten miles race, between the Indian Deerfoot and Brighten, “the Norwich Milk Boy,” for a silver cup of the value of £30, took place on Figg’s Cricket Ground, Newmarket Road, Norwich. Previous performances of Brighten and Deerfoot had given rise to suspicion as to the genuineness of these contests, but on this occasion it was announced that “Deerfoot’s career in England being about to terminate,” the race would be a legitimate trial of speed. Brighten won by 30 yards, in 54 minutes, 30 sees.
17.—A severe storm occurred at Yarmouth, and numerous shipping casualties were reported.
19.—A fire took place on the premises of Messrs. Tillyard and Howlett, wholesale boot and shoe manufacturers, Water Lane, St. George’s Colegate, Norwich, and damage was done to the amount of £2000.
29.—Died at St. Leonard’s-on-Sea, the Dowager Lady Stafford. Her ladyship was an American by birth, one of four daughters of Mr. C. Caton, of Baltimore. So remarkable were the sisters for their personal charms, that they were known as “the beauties of Baltimore,” a reputation which had the effect of securing for three of them British coronets, one as the Duchess of Leeds, another as the Marchioness Wellesley, and the third as the Baroness Stafford. She became the second wife of the 8th Lord Stafford in 1837.