14.—The Earl of Leicester, as Lord Lieutenant of the county, reviewed the Volunteers of Norfolk and Norwich, on Mousehold Heath. Upwards of 2,000 were on parade, and were inspected by Col. McMurdo, Inspector-General of the Volunteer Forces. The troops were afterwards entertained at dinner at the Corn Hall. The Mayor (Mr. Patteson) presided, supported by the Lord Lieutenant and many distinguished guests.
—The Norfolk and Norwich Triennial Musical Festival commenced with an evening performance of “Judas Maccabæus.” On the evenings of the 15th, 16th, and 17th, miscellaneous concerts were given. “Joash” (E. Silas), conducted by the composer, was produced on the morning of the 16th, followed by “Scene at the Gates of Nain,” from “Emmanuel,” and a portion of the “Stabat Mater”; “Elijah” on the morning of the 17th, and “The Messiah” on the morning of the 18th. The principal performers were Mdlle. Tietjens, Madame Lemmens Sherrington, Madame Weiss, Miss Wilkinson, Miss Palmer, Mdlle. Trebelli, Mr. Sims Reeves, Signor Bettini, Mr. Montem Smith, Mr. Santley, Signor Bossi, and Mr. Weiss. Mr. Benedict conducted. A “full dress” ball was held on the night of the 18th.
21.—James Naylor, of Elsing, aged 51, murdered his wife, Charlotte Naylor, aged 81. “From the time he was committed to Norwich Castle to take his trial at the Assizes, he endeavoured to lead people to imagine that he was not of sound mind.” He died in prison on November 23rd, from cancer in the stomach.
30.—At a dinner held at St. Nicholas’ Hall, East Dereham, Capt. Bulwer, the commanding-officer of the 15th Norfolk Rifle Volunteers, was presented with an album containing photographs of every member of the company, “in recognition of his valuable services in promoting the success and efficiency of the corps.” A presentation was also made to Mrs. Bulwer.
OCTOBER.
2.—Died in London, Sir William Bellairs, of Mulbarton Lodge, in his 70th year. From 1811 to 1819 he served in the 15th Hussars, and went through the campaigns of 1813 and 1814. He was present at Vittoria, the Pyrenees, Orthes, Tarbes, Toulouse, and other engagements, and also served in the campaign of 1815, had a horse killed under him in the retreat from Quatre Bras, and received two wounds at the battle of Waterloo. In 1837 he was appointed exon of the Yeomen of the Guard, which he held up to 1849. He married, in 1822, Miss Hooke, daughter and heiress of Mr. Edmund Hooke, of Mulbarton Lodge.
10.—Died at his residence, St. Catherine’s Cottage, Norwich, in his 62nd year, Mr. William Matchett, senior proprietor of the Norfolk Chronicle. He was the second son of Mr. Jonathan Matchett, a former proprietor of the journal. Educated at Norwich Grammar School, under the Rev. Dr. Valpy, he became a partner in the establishment in 1827, from which time until his death he took an active share in its management. “In former days, before the science of shorthand writing had become a business in itself, Mr. Matchett, like his school-fellow and contemporary, Mr. R. N. Bacon, performed for this newspaper all those duties which the exigencies of the present age require should be distributed amongst a ‘staff of reporters,’ and as the representative of the Chronicle attended most of the principal meetings in the city and county, the proceedings at which were ably condensed for the public eye by the aid of his brief notes and singularly retentive memory. Under the old Corporation, and for a short period under the new régime, Mr. Matchett was connected with the Norwich Town Council for upwards of eight years, and at all times took a warm interest in the welfare and improvement of his native city.
27.—Elihu Burritt, “the Learned Blacksmith,” delivered a lecture to the Norwich Young Men’s Christian Association, on “The Higher Law and Mission of Commerce.”
29.—Mdlle. Carlotta Patti appeared at St. Andrew’s Hall, Norwich, accompanied by Madame Fanny Huddart, Herr Reichardt, Signor Ferranti, and MM. Vieuxtemps and Ascher (violin and pianoforte). “Mdlle. Patti had been offered an engagement at the Festival, but had declined to come unless she was paid 500 gs. The Festival Committee were justified in rejecting her terms, which could only be accorded to a second Jenny Lind, which she is not. Nevertheless she is a wonderful singer.”