Norfolk Annals
Chapter 53 : -*"An experiment has been tried for the bettering of the condition of the labourer

-*"An experiment has been tried for the bettering of the condition of the labourers in agriculture, and for reducing the poor rates in the parish of Terrington by the apportionment of parcels of land from one to five roods, which has been found, after three years' trial, to be productive of the happiest effects."

23.-During a violent gale from the N.N.W. a new East Indiaman, the Indian, of 400 tons, from Hull to London, was wrecked off Yarmouth. The crew of 20 hands and a small part of her stores were saved. The value of the s.h.i.+p and cargo was estimated at 10,000.

25.-Service was held at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, when "the lighting of the church was strikingly beautiful, and had a very imposing effect by the admission of some additional lamps, which were very judiciously arranged, giving to the altar and the communion plate upon the table a very brilliant and splendid appearance."

28.-A prize fight took place at Testerton Park, the residence of Major Case, between Barlee, the Berghapton Groom, and Gales, the Norwich butcher. The former was attended by Ned Painter and Hervey, and the latter by Josh Hudson and Cullington. Seventy-eight rounds were fought in one hour three minutes, and the battle was won by Barlee. "Barlee, on being declared victor, immediately planted an oak in the ring in the presence of about 5,000 spectators in front of Testerton Hall. The two young pugilists were, by order of Major Case, taken under his hospitable roof and put to bed, where everything needful was generously offered them. A large party of the Fancy had the honour of dining with the major."

1822.

JANUARY.

2.-A party of thieves, known as the "Cossey gang," committed great depredations in the neighbourhood of Norwich. On the night of the 2nd they broke into the Half Moon public-house, Stone Hills, and stole sixteen gallons of spirits and other property. "Tired of committing depredations on foot, about ten o'clock at night, as soon as they find those who keep horses are gone to bed, they resort to the stables and take out what horses they want, ride to the spot of depredation, whether for game, poultry, sheep, &c., and when done return the horses almost jaded and hara.s.sed to death." (See August 2nd, 1822.)

9.-The Marquis of t.i.tchfield was elected without opposition as member of Parliament for King's Lynn, in place of Sir Martin Browne ffolkes, deceased.

12.-The poor of Norwich and its neighbourhood were informed by advertis.e.m.e.nt that medical and surgical advice was given free at the Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye, St Benedict's, Norwich (late Messrs.

Day's bank), by Mr. L. Evans, M.D., physician, and Messrs. Robert Hull and T. Martineau, jun., surgeons. At a public meeting held on July 11th, under the presidency of Sir Robert J. Harvey, it was resolved that "the Norfolk and Norwich Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye, inst.i.tuted and supported by Dr. Evans, Mr. Hull, and Mr. T. Martineau, has already been productive of great advantage, and is deserving of public support."

-A meeting of the proprietors and occupiers of land was held at the s.h.i.+rehouse, Norwich, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the present most truly alarming state of agriculture." The High Sheriff (Sir Jacob Astley) presided. Resolutions were adopted urging the diminution of taxation by means of rigid economy, the repeal of one half of the Malt Tax, and the removal of the heavy imposts upon candles, salt, leather, &c. A pet.i.tion embodying these views was ordered to be presented to the House of Commons. After this date many similar meetings were held in the princ.i.p.al towns and villages in the Hundreds of the county, ostensibly for the purpose of suggesting remedies for agricultural distress and of promoting Parliamentary reform. It was alleged that many of these gatherings were of a party character, and on May 18th, the NORFOLK CHRONICLE observed: "The discussion of agricultural distress was last week suspended, and the mask of Parliamentary Reform entirely thrown off by those who for the last four months have displayed so much violence against the Government in pursuing the one, and casting so much obloquy upon Parliament in a.s.suming the other."

24.-The annual dinner held at Norwich in celebration of the birthday of Fox was attended by H.R.H. the Duke of Suss.e.x, the Duke of Norfolk, the Earl of Albemarle (who presided), Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, and many other representatives of the Whig n.o.bility and gentry of the county.

28.-Two Corsican stags, presented by Lord Maynard to Mr. Robert Hamond, gave the Westacre Hunt good sport this season. "The first was turned off at Rougham on the 28th, and gave them a severe chase of nearly three hours, from the effects of which two horses died. They are very superior to the red deer of this country from their capability to endure extreme fatigue and to take the most extraordinary leaps."

31.-Norwich Theatre was opened for the season with the grand spectacle of "The Coronation."

FEBRUARY.

1.-Lord Henry Cholmondeley was elected Member of Parliament for the borough of Castle Rising, in the room of the Earl of Rocksavage, created a peer by the t.i.tle of Baron Newburgh.

11.-The Papyruseum, an exhibition of models formed of paper by Mrs.

Aberdein, was opened at the White Swan Inn, Norwich.

14.-A smuggling boat landed 80 tubs of gin and brandy on Snettisham beach. The crew of the preventive boat seized the cargo, a portion of which with their boat was rescued by the smugglers, who had the a.s.sistance of about 100 persons, some of whom were armed with bludgeons and fowling pieces. Twenty or thirty horses and carts were in waiting to remove the contraband goods. Two of the smugglers were wounded in the affray.

18.-Lynn Theatre was opened under the management of Mr. T. Marsters.

19.-Skipper, the Norwich pedestrian, walked 50 miles in a few minutes under eleven hours at Lynn.

23.*-"We understand that the manufactory of bombazines and c.r.a.pes in Norwich is likely to be affected from the circ.u.mstance of those articles being now made in considerable quant.i.ties in various parts of Lancas.h.i.+re at a much lower rate of wages for the weaving than that which is paid here."

26.-Married, by special licence, at the house of the Earl of Albemarle, St. James's Square, London, by the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Mr. Thomas William c.o.ke, M.P., of Holkham, to Lady Anne Keppel, second daughter of the earl.

27.-The machine breaking riots commenced in Norfolk. Upwards of a hundred labourers a.s.sembled at Kenninghall, and seized the thres.h.i.+ng machine of Mr. Bailey, a farmer. The Rev. J. Surtees, of Banham, a county justice, at once proceeded to a neighbouring farm where an auction was being held, and, in the King's name, requested the auctioneer and the farmers present to a.s.sist him in quelling the disturbance. The whole party rode over to Kenninghall, and after the Riot Act had been read the mob dispersed. On March 4th there were further riotous a.s.semblies at Attleborough, Shropham, Buckenham, Banham, &c. The Eye troop of Yeomanry Cavalry were called out, and of the 30 rioters secured eight who were regarded as ringleaders, and they were sent to Norwich Castle under cavalry escort. The Yeomanry after lodging the prisoners in gaol were a.s.sailed by a Norwich mob, who stoned them in the streets, and attacked the Trowel and Hammer public-house, St. Stephen's, where they had halted to bait their horses. The troopers returned to headquarters at East Harling after a march of eighty miles in twenty hours. Many prisoners were also committed to the Castle from other districts, and several cases of incendiarism were reported. At the adjourned Quarter Sessions for the county, held at Norwich on the 6th, the rioters were tried and sentenced to various terms of imprisonment in the Bridewells and houses of correction in the county. A guard of the West Norfolk Militia was stationed at the Castle, and a squadron of the Norwich Light Horse Volunteers did duty at the Cavalry Barracks until relieved by the 16th Lancers. The Lancers and Light Horse afterwards acted as escorts to the vans by which the prisoners were conveyed to the different prisons. On the march the military were repeatedly stoned by the mobs. Detachments of the 7th Dragoon Guards were stationed at Hingham and Attleborough, and remained at those places until the lawless disposition manifested by the rural population had subsided.

MARCH.

9.-Wombwell exhibited his menagerie on the Castle Meadow, Norwich.

16.-Mr. Blanchard appeared at Norwich Theatre as Toby Allspice ("The Way to Get Married") and Crack ("The Turnpike Gate"). Among the other characters impersonated during his engagement were Dr. Ollapod, Sir Abel Handy, Mungo, Job Thornberry ("John Bull"), Capt. Meadows ("The Deaf Lover"), &c.

28.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Richards, William Hardiment and Benjamin Neal, who were concerned with James Johnson in the murder of Mr. Baker at Wells-next-the-Sea on October 11th, 1817, were put upon their trial. Hardiment had evaded apprehension, and at the Spring a.s.sizes in 1818 the bill charging Neal as an accessory was thrown out by the Grand Jury. Several witnesses now deposed to having seen Johnson and Hardiment in company at about the time of the murder, and two persons confined in Aylsham bridewell at the same time that Hardiment and Neal were prisoners there gave evidence as to hearing conversations between the two when planning the murder. One of these witnesses (Thomas Robinson), on December 24th, 1821, met Hardiment at Beverley, in Yorks.h.i.+re, and gave information which led to his arrest.

The jury found Hardiment guilty, and acquitted Neal. Hardiment was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, at noon on April 1st in the presence of an immense crowd of spectators. "Not more than three yards from the gallows a boy was knocked down by a gentleman who detected him picking his pockets."

-At the same a.s.sizes, before Mr. Justice Richards, the cause Lock, D.D., _v._ the Bishop of Norwich was tried. In consequence of simony alleged to have been committed by the Rev. Dr. Lock, the patron of the advowson of Hilgay, the Crown had seized the living and presented the Rev. Dr.

Hewlett thereto on April 6th, 1819. This action of _quare impedit_ was inst.i.tuted by the plaintiff to try the right of the Crown to such presentation. The defendant raised three pleas: (1) that the Rev. John Royle being seized of the living of Hilgay it was corruptly agreed that Lock should resign the living of Compton Martin, in Somersets.h.i.+re, and cause him (Royle) to be presented to it, and also that Lock should pay Royle the sum of 12,900 for the advowson of Hilgay, and that in consideration of the promises Royle should resign the living and cause Lock to be presented to it. (2) That Lock being seized of the living of Hilgay did corruptly agree with one James Craddock, that in consideration of the said Craddock paying to him the sum of 25,000 he (Lock) should convey to Craddock the advowson of Hilgay, and also resign the living and cause him (Craddock) to be presented to it. (3) That Lock, being seized of Hilgay, having presented Craddock, did corruptly agree that, in consideration of Lock abandoning certain proceedings in an action for debt against Craddock, he should forego proceedings upon a bill of indictment for perjury preferred by Lock against Craddock, but Lock corruptly prevailed upon Craddock to resign the living in order that he (Lock) might present himself to it. The jury gave a verdict for the Crown generally upon all pleas. The Judge: A very proper verdict. It is very disgraceful dealing, gentlemen.

30.*-(Advt.) "To be fought at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, on Monday, April 15th, 1822, and two following days, three double-days' play of c.o.c.ks for ten guineas a battle and 200 guineas the odd, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Northampton. Feeders: Stafford for Norwich, Nash for Northampton."

APRIL.

6.*-"A fish of the whale species was killed in shallow water on Cromer beach last week. Its dimensions were 57 feet long, breadth of tail, 13 feet; pectoral fin, six feet; from the eye to the end of the jaw, 13 feet; length of jaw bones, 14 feet; length of tongue, nine feet; breadth, four feet. It answers the description of the under-jawed whale."

13.-Noah Peak and George Fortis were executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, for setting fire to three stacks on February 25th. Both men had been soldiers. Peak was present at Busaco, Albuera, and Waterloo; and Fortis was also in the last-named battle. "It is not three years since Peak came to Norwich and conveyed home for burial the body of Edward Fisher, his fellow paris.h.i.+oner, who was executed on the Hill in August, 1819, for stabbing William Harrison."

20.-Among the pa.s.sengers who perished in the s.h.i.+p Albion, wrecked upon the coast of Ireland, was Miss Powell, eldest daughter of the Hon. W. D.

Powell, Chief Justice of Upper Canada, and granddaughter of Dr. John Murray, of Norwich.

MAY.

1.-Four candidates were nominated for the Mayoralty of Norwich, and the poll was declared as follows:-Alderman Hawkes, 957; Alderman Patteson, 908; Alderman Thurtell, 364; Alderman Yallop, 318. The Court of Aldermen unanimously returned Mr. Robert Hawkes as Mayor.

4.*-"Last week two gentlemen on searching the burial ground belonging to the Roman camp at Caister discovered the remains of a kiln with several urns upon it as they were placed for burning. Antiquaries having doubted whether urns found at Caister were burnt in a fire or only dried in the sun, the discovery of this kiln may be decisive of the question."

11.-A county meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehouse, Norwich, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety of presenting a pet.i.tion to Parliament for a reform in the representation of the people."

There was a crowded gathering, and much confusion prevailed until the High Sheriff (Sir R. P. Jodrell) adjourned the meeting to the Castle Hill, where the speeches were delivered from waggons. Sir Thomas Beevor moved a series of resolutions, the sixth of which stated "that a pet.i.tion be presented to the House of Commons praying that the House will forthwith give to the people a real representation in place of that corrupt and defective one which now exists." Mr. S. T. Southwell seconded the resolutions, which were put _seriatim_ and carried _nem.

con._ Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., and Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, M.P., spoke from their respective waggons, and each surrounded by his partisans, left the Hill amid much cheering.

20.-A meeting was held at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, to decide upon the rules of a society for enabling traders to oppose the discharge of fraudulent debtors under the Insolvent Acts.

25.-An immense number of persons a.s.sembled at the Eau Brink Cut at Lynn to witness the performance of "Zachariah Witmore, of Philadelphia" upon a "water velocipede." It was a hoax.

30.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, the Mayor (Mr. W.

Rackham) presiding, at which a fund was inaugurated for the relief of the distress in Ireland. Sermons were also preached in the churches and chapels in city and county in aid of the same object. The amount raised in Norwich and Norfolk was upwards of 3,000.