The house now contains two circles of Boxes, with side ones on the same tier as the Gallery. There are Stage Boxes the same as those of Drury-lane. The Stage doors are semi-circular, and a Box over them, both of these are filled with a triliage of gold and a small pilaster. The Boxes are supported by small reeded columns of gold, and the front of every Box decorated with coloured Raphael ornaments, on a ground of French grey. At each column are lamps (patent), in the Grecian style, suspended from an antique branch of gold, which gives a brilliancy to the whole. The general tone of colour is a quiet fawn, which is pleasing to the eye, and relieves the pannels of coloured ornaments. The mouldings are gold and white, which give a lightness to the whole. From the entablature or cornice in front, descends a cove, with the Imperial Arms in the centre, admirably executed, painted yellow, and heightened in gold, with this motto, Conabimur (we will endeavour); below this is a rich crimson curtain, with gold fringe, supported by two statues, and on each side of the stage doors are pilasters of gold, reeded, in which every reed plays in the light, and produces the most pleasing effect. There are distinct entrances to each part of the house, Boxes, Pit, and Gallery, and the Box Lobbies are roomy and commodious. At the back of the upper circle is a bar-room, where coffee, tea, sweets, &c. may be procured.
The Assembly-Rooms next it are spacious and brilliant.
There are five Hospitals: one of them, St Giles’, founded originally for the entertainment of strangers, was, by Henry VIII. appropriated to the poor of the city; which maintains 104 poor men and women, who are all cloathed in grey, and must be sixty years of age. Another for 16 poor men and 8 women, whose livery is purple. Cooke’s Hospital, in the Rose-lane, maintains 10 poor women; and Doughty’s, which was founded in 1687, supports 24 poor men and 8 women. The Boys and Girls’ Hospital contain 30 of each, and the boys are from thence put out apprentices. Besides 5 Charity Schools, where 111 boys and 22 girls are taught, clothed, and supplied with books. A number of Sunday Schools under the care of the Rev. Lancaster Adkin, where 133 boys and girls receive every attention, with many advantages—and several other Charity and Sunday Schools, on foundations, or supported by voluntary contributions from dissenting meetings, &c. taking the whole together, educating, clothing, &c. 300 boys and 150 girls.
The City of Norwich has local advantages superior to most cities in the kingdom: a navigable stream to the port of Yarmouth passes through the middle of it, with great convenience for the Wharfage and Delivery of goods of all kinds to and from London.
It is situated on a mixed soil of ground, in a salubrious air, neither subject to violent or scorching heat, nor to moist or watery vapours. The upper stratum of earth is light soil, of sufficient depth for the plough; the under stratum is chalk, gravel, and sand.
It is happily screened and defended from the Easterly winds by a considerable rising ground, called Moushold Heath, which is higher than the tops of the churches in the lower parts of the city.
If abounds in springs of water of the purest kind, nearly equal to the celebrated Bristol water, supplied to the inhabitants by a variety of public pumps.
The City is governed by a mayor, recorder, steward, 2 sheriffs, 24 aldermen, and 60 common council-men; a town-clerk, sword-bearer, &c. The mayor is elected by the freemen on the first day of May, and sworn into office on the Guild-day, the Tuesday before Midsummer-day; except when Midsummer-day falls on a Wednesday, and then the Guild is kept on the Tuesday se’nnight before Midsummer-day. He is chosen from among the Aldermen, is justice of the quorum during his mayoralty, and afterwards justice of the peace for life.
The sheriffs are also annually elected, one by the Aldermen, the other by the freemen, on the last Tuesday in August, and sworn Sept. 29.
The city is divided into twelve wards, viz. Ber-street, Colegate, North Conisford, South Conisford, Coslany, Fyebridge, Mancroft, St. Giles, St. Stephen, East Wymer, Middle Wymer, Weft Wymer; each of which elects two Aldermen.