Norfolk Annals
Chapter 50 : 3.-At a meeting held at the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich, the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.so

3.-At a meeting held at the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich, the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation adopted a form of pet.i.tion to be presented to the House of Commons upon "the present deplorable condition of Agriculture."

10.*-"The remains of two bodies (no doubt those of Roman soldiers) were lately dug up in a field opposite the west front of the Roman camp at Caister, near Norwich. Nothing was entire of them except several teeth and a metal brooch in excellent preservation, although they cannot have been interred less than 1,400 years. Eleven or twelve human skeletons, supposed to have been buried after some battle, were also discovered on a farm at Longham, near Mileham, close at the foot of an antient ditch, which Parkin supposes gives name to the Hundred of Launditch. Eight or ten years ago, in removing a tumulus in the same parish, some urns were discovered."

10.-Bloggs' London caravan was advertised to run from the Rampant Horse coach office, Norwich, to London in 24 hours. It started on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at four o'clock, and returned on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sat.u.r.day. The Norwich and London Fly vans ran from the Star Inn, Norwich, to the Bull Inn, Aldgate.

-Dr. Lewis Evans was elected physician to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital on the resignation of Dr. Alderson, to whom a vote of thanks was accorded by the governors for his professional services of 50 years.

12.-Miss Macaulay commenced at Norwich Theatre an engagement of four nights, during which she appeared as Lady Randolph ("Douglas"), Violante ("The Wonder"), Jane Sh.o.r.e, Rosabello ("Rugantino"), Lady Townley ("The Provoked Husband"), and Phbe ("Rosina").

15.-By the careless driving of the coachman the Morning Star, Yarmouth coach, was overturned at Scole Inn, and of the three inside and nine outside pa.s.sengers, one, Mr. b.u.t.terfield, of Leeds, was seriously injured, and died on April 14th. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes in March, 1822, an action was brought by b.u.t.terfield's employers against the owners of the coach for the recovery of damages sustained by them by the loss of their servant. The jury found for the plaintiffs, damages, 100; expenses, 258; and costs, 40s.

17.-The perfectly new house of Mr. John Cator, at Woodbastwick, was destroyed by fire. "The interior of the building was consumed, the walls alone left standing."

24.-Mr. J. M. Murry, of Davey Place, Norwich, advertised himself as "sole agent for the sale of Bridgman's patent iron coffins as security to the deceased persons."

26.-Mrs. Davison appeared at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, in the character of Let.i.tia Hardy. On subsequent evenings she performed Priscilla Tomboy, Hypolita ("She Wou'd and She Wou'd Not"), and Kathleen ("The Poor Soldier").

28.-An unusually large supply of white herring was received from Yarmouth at Norwich. The fish were sold at a penny a dozen at Fye Bridge staith, and afforded great relief to the poor.

MARCH.

3.*-"Died lately at Reepham Moor, St. John Hunt, who was buried by his desire in his best suit of clothes, great coat, hat, &c. A tobacco box, short pipe, and walking stick were also deposited by his side in the coffin."

-Mr. Richard Taylor, of Norwich, published his well-known work, the "Index Monasticus."

-Died at his house in Queen Street, Norwich, Mr. William Foster, an alderman of the Wymer Ward.

5.-Died, at Versailles, in her 70th year, Miss Hannah Brand, formerly of Norwich.

7.-Three prisoners confined in the city gaol, Norwich, and charged with capital offences, effected their escape by making a hole through the wall of their cell. They were recaptured.

-Mr. Edward Temple Booth, Sheriff of Norwich, was elected an alderman of the Great Ward of Wymer, in place of Mr. Foster, deceased. The other candidate was Mr. Richard Shaw, who served the office in 1818.

8.-A new tragedy, ent.i.tled "Antigone," written by Mr. Edward Ball, of Duke's Palace House, Norwich, was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time.

13.-Mr. E. Wodehouse presented to the House of Commons pet.i.tions from the owners and occupiers of land in the vicinity of Norwich, Yarmouth, and North Walsham, on the depressed state of agriculture, praying for a repeal of the last duty on malt, and for the subst.i.tution of a modified tax on property. At this date wheat was making 25s. to 31s.; barley, 9s.

to 12s. 6d.; oats, 9s. to 10s.; and malt, 34s. per coomb.

22.-A performance took place for the benefit of the Theatrical Fund, established for the relief of aged and decayed actors of the Norwich company. The Freemasons gave their patronage, and, in full regalia, attended the Theatre, where the pieces produced were the comedy "Secrets worth Knowing," and the musical farce "The Padlock." The proceeds amounted to 117 2s. 6d.

26.-Mrs. Bartley commenced at Norwich Theatre an engagement, during which she appeared in the characters of Bianca ("Fazio"), Jane Shaw, Madame Chermont ("Adrian and Orrila"), Mary Stuart, and Catherine ("The Taming of the Shrew").

31.-The freedom of the city of Norwich was presented to Capt. William Edward Parry, R.N., prior to his departure for the Arctic Seas to ascertain the existence of a north-west pa.s.sage. He was a nephew of Dr.

Rigby, of Norwich. The parchment was presented in an oak box, made of a piece of the wood of the Hecla, the s.h.i.+p commanded by him in his voyage of discovery towards the North Pole in 181920.

APRIL.

2.-A new peal of bells, hung by Messrs. Hurry, of Norwich, was opened at Ditchingham.

3.-Died, aged 92, Thomas Burton, "father of the St. Peter's company of ringers, Norwich."

-Died in St. George Colegate, Norwich, aged 88, Mrs. Goulty, widow of Mr.

John Goulty, and aunt to Admiral Lord Nelson.

-Mr. R. Morlege, many years confidential clerk to Messrs. W. and S.

Bircham, of Reepham, "left that place with his family, a wife, and seven children, one an infant, in a covered van for Liverpool, there to embark for Baltimore, and from thence to proceed in his van, which he takes on board with him, about 400 miles up the country, and to settle on the banks of the Ohio."

5.-Died in St. Swithin's, Norwich, aged 84, the Rev. James Lane, for 32 years Roman Catholic priest in the city.

7.-A "new and elegant" light post coach, "The Times," was announced to set out from the Angel Inn, Norwich, to the Swan-with-Two-Necks, Lad Lane, London, on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at six o'clock, by way of Scole, Bury, Sudbury, and Halstead. It returned on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sat.u.r.day. The proprietors, W. Start, J. Thorogood and Co., regretted "the circ.u.mstance which rendered the dissolution of partners.h.i.+p between them and Mrs. Nelson indispensable, in consequence of which they had no connection with the Phenomena coach." Thorogood himself drove the coach both to and from London.

9.-Mr. J. Brunton, the former manager, and his daughter, Miss f.a.n.n.y Brunton, performed at Norwich Theatre. They appeared respectively as Oth.e.l.lo and Desdemona on the opening night, and on subsequent evenings as Horatius and Horatia ("The Roman Father"), and Wildlove and Zephyrina ("The Lady and the Devil"). "Miss Brunton, though not 19 years of age, has made great progress towards histrionic excellence."

10.-At a public meeting held at the Town Hall, Yarmouth, under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr. Fisher), a committee was appointed and a subscription opened for the formation of a fund from which to reward boatmen for rescuing persons from s.h.i.+pwreck.

14.-The Wellington coach ran from Norwich on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sat.u.r.day to Stamford, where it effected a connection with coaches to the Midlands and the North.

15.-Wombwell's Menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Meadow, Norwich.

17.-The erection of a new jetty was commenced at Cromer. It was finished in the summer of 1822. "Erected on ma.s.sy iron frames by Mr. Hase, of Saxthorpe, it exhibits a magnificent proof of the skill of the engineer, and of his honourable attention to his contract."

22.-Died in St. George's Colegate, Norwich, after a few days' illness, John Crome, the elder. He was president of the Norwich Society of Artists, and an artist of considerable repute. His remains were interred on the 27th in a vault in St. George's church.

23.-St. George's Day being the day appointed for the celebration of his Majesty's birthday, the Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, and the 9th Lancers and the Norwich Light Horse Volunteers fired three volleys with their pistols in the Market Place. The Mayor gave a dinner at his house, Major Harvey and the officers and men of the Light Horse dined at the White Lion Inn, St. Benedict's, and several members of the Common Council met for dinner at the Castle Inn. The Loyal Heroes or Sons of Pitt, and several other societies dined at their respective club houses.

-Miss Rosalie Corri appeared at Norwich Theatre as Polly ("The Beggars'

Opera"). Her other characters included Louison ("Henri Quatre"), Zerlina ("The Libertine"), &c.

25.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the promotion of vaccination amongst the poor, it was stated that in 1819, when about 500 persons died of small-pox, "the figures of persons liable to take the disease was on an average of five years not less than 1,000 annually."

Since that year vaccination had again languished, and in 1820 not 100 of the poor were vaccinated. The meeting directed that a census be immediately taken for the purpose of ascertaining how many persons remained unvaccinated, and what would be the extent of the danger attending the introduction of small-pox.

26.-A smuggling boat was captured at Yarmouth between the Nelson monument and the old jetty, by boats of the Revenue cutter Ranger, Capt. Sayer.

The smuggler had on board about 400 tubs of Geneva, and a quant.i.ty of dry goods, and her crew escaped by jumping overboard and swimming ash.o.r.e.

28.*-"Died last week at Swaffham, the widow Turner, aged 96, formerly a midwife. Mrs. Turner had a perfect remembrance of the girl who was burnt at Lynn on April 1st, 1731, for aiding and a.s.sisting in the murder of her mistress, and was taken by her friends to visit her in prison a few days before the execution of that dreadful sentence."

-Gurney's Original day coach was advertised to leave the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, for the Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street, and the Black Bear, Piccadilly. The proprietor referred to the liberal patronage he had received "amidst the powerful ruinous compet.i.tion among other parties concerned in the Norwich and London coaches."

30.-At the White Swan Inn, Norwich, commenced a three double days' play of c.o.c.ks, for 10 guineas a battle and 200 guineas the odd, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridges.h.i.+re. Feeders: Lamb for Norwich, Burn for Cambridge. Norwich won by seven battles ahead in the mains, and two in the byes.

MAY.

1.-There was a contest this year for the Mayoralty of Norwich. At the close of the poll the numbers were declared as follow:-Alderman Rackham, 986; Alderman Hawkes, 950; Alderman Marsh, 630; Alderman Yallop, 631.