Norfolk Annals
Chapter 48 : Beckwith was elected Speaker of the Common Council.5.-Four prisoners made their escape

Beckwith was elected Speaker of the Common Council.

5.-Four prisoners made their escape from the city gaol at Norwich. Each prisoner was wearing his leg irons, and their escape was observed. One was apprehended immediately, another was captured at Wymondham, a third at St. Augustine's gates, and the fourth surrendered.

10.-Died at Cheltenham, aged 57, Major-General Sir Haylett Framingham, K.C.B., colonel of the Royal Horse Artillery and commanding officer of Royal Artillery in Ireland. He was the eldest son of Mr. C. Framingham, of Swaffham, and served under Wellington in the Peninsula.

14.-The Bishop of Norwich commenced his Ordinary Visitation at Thetford, where he confirmed 1,500 persons. The numbers confirmed in other centres in the diocese were:-At Newmarket, 2,900; Sudbury, 2,400; Bury St.

Edmund's, 4,320; Stowmarket, 2,200; Ipswich, 2,300; Woodbridge, 1,400; Framlingham, 1,900; Halesworth, 1,300; Lowestoft, 600; Beccles, 700; North Walsham, 1,370; Holt, 1,200; Fakenham, 2,000; Lynn, 2,000; Downham, 1,300; Swaffham, 1,600; and Dereham, 1,230. The Visitation concluded on July 1st, and was said to have "redounded highly to the honour of the clergy of this extensive diocese, as the number of persons confirmed greatly exceeded all former visitations."

-Died at King Street, Norwich, in her 104th year, Mrs. Laney, widow of the Rev. Benjamin Laney, formerly rector of Mulbarton.

20.*-"The depredations on the river Yare during the last five years have amounted to 25,000."

24.-At a meeting of the clergy of the county of Norfolk and of the diocese of Norwich, held at the Swan Inn, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, under the presidency of Archdeacon Bathurst, it was decided to pet.i.tion Parliament against the claims of "the Roman Catholic persuasion."

29.-Pitt's birthday was celebrated by a public dinner at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, at which 350 n.o.blemen and gentlemen were present. Lord Bayning presided.

JUNE.

1.-A detachment of the 10th Light Dragoons, commanded by Major Stapleton, arrived at Norwich to relieve the 14th Light Dragoons, who on the same day left on their route to Canterbury.

4.-Died at his house in the Close, Norwich, Mr. Thomas Tawell, aged 57, "who, having been deprived of his sight for some years, founded the Hospital and School for the Indigent Blind in Norwich, in 1806."

13.-Died, aged 84, at her house in Surrey Street, Norwich, Mrs. Holland, "formerly and for many years a respectable actress in the Norwich company."

14.-Died at the Great Hospital, Bishopgate Street, Norwich, aged 70, John Dale, "who for many years travelled the circuit with the Norwich company as dresser to the actresses, and whose skill and ingenuity in that capacity stood unrivalled, for the taste and excellence which he manifested in his profession. By his industry he was enabled to support his father and mother in their extreme old age."

19.-Mr. Booth appeared on the Norwich stage as Richard III. His other characters were King Lear, Octavian, Sir Giles Overreach, and Jerry Sneak ("The Mayor of Garrat").

20.-Guild Day at Norwich. The Corporation attended service at the Cathedral, and Mr. William Burt was sworn in as Mayor at the Guildhall.

He afterwards entertained 600 guests at the guild feast at St. Andrew's Hall, and in the evening gave a ball at Chapel Field House.

22.-A fire engine, constructed by Mr. Jordan for the Norwich Union Fire Office, "was tried on the society's house in Surrey Street. It discharged three barrels of water a minute, and its price is 78-cheaper by 50 than the more c.u.mbrous engines."

26.-The First or West Norfolk Militia, commanded by the Earl of Orford, a.s.sembled on the Castle Hill, Norwich, for 28 days' training. "The next morning the men paraded in their new scarlet coats and blue pantaloons."

The regiment was paid off on July 23rd, when "the Earl of Orford made each of the non-commissioned officers a handsome present for their exertions."

28.-A dinner was given at the Feathers Hotel, Holt, in honour of Mr. W.

E. L. Bulwer, on his accession to the Heydon estate. Mr. R. Brereton presided over 320 guests.

30.-A meeting of the owners and occupiers of lands and tenements in the hamlets of the city was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. J. Harvey, when resolutions were moved against the new and increased a.s.sessment of the hamlets to the poor rates, according to the valuation of property made by order of the Court of Guardians, and a subscription was started for defraying the expenses of appealing against the mulct and of any other legal proceedings.

JULY.

3.-Holkham Sheep Shearing, which commenced on this date, was attended by a very large company. "Perhaps we cannot give our readers a better idea of the utility of the system of agriculture practised at Holkham, than to inform them that it and the adjoining country for many miles around were fifty years ago a barren waste where scarcely a rabbit could find subsistence, and that it is now the garden of England, covered with most luxuriant crops of every description." H.R.H. the Duke of Suss.e.x, and the Russian Princes Potemkin and Trabetzkoy, were present this year. Mr.

Morton, of Leith, showed a small cast-iron plough, performing five different operations; a revolving harrow, and a weed extirpator.

3.-A prize fight took place on Tharston Common between Dan, the stonemason, and Gales, the butcher. The stakes amounted to 20, and 120 rounds were fought in one hour twenty-one minutes. Gales was the winner.

8.*-"We congratulate the county on the election of a Norfolk man, Dr.

Hyde Wollaston, to the president's chair of the Royal Society. It is a curious circ.u.mstance that the presidents of three very distinguished and scientific bodies, and two of the princ.i.p.al officers of two others are natives of this county, namely, Dr. Wollaston, president of the Royal Society; Sir James Edward Smith, president of the Linnaean Society; Dr.

Astley Cooper, president of the Medical Chirurgical Society; Mr. Richard Taylor, secretary of the Linnaean Society; and Mr. John Taylor, treasurer of the Geological Society."

17.-The great prize fight between Painter and Oliver, commemorated by Borrow in "Lavengro," took place near North Walsham. The stakes were 100 a side, and the amateurs of Norwich gave 20 towards the training expenses of Oliver, on condition that he fought within reasonable distance of Norwich. The battle was contested upon a platform. A staging about 100 yards in length was erected for the accommodation of spectators, for whom, also, sixty waggons were formed in a circle round the outer ring; 50 was collected at the gate, and the sums charged for admission to the seats on the staging produced 80. The greatest order prevailed among the 20,000 persons present, the ring being kept by Shelton, Randall, Turner, Scroggins, Eales, Josh Hudson, Harmer, Purcell, and other noted pugilists. Oliver was seconded by Cribb and Belcher, and Painter by Spring (his former opponent) and Paul. The odds were five and a half to four on Painter. Twelve rounds were fought, and Painter won.

His colours (yellow) were hoisted upon a waggon, and he was everywhere greeted with loud cheering. Many of the London contingent lost heavily over the fight.-A second battle took place between Sampson, the Birmingham youth, and Martin, the baker (the Master of the Rolls). The former was seconded by Turner and Paul, and the latter by Cribb and Spring. The odds were six to four on Martin, who won after 29 rounds, fought in 38 minutes. It was during this fight that the thunderstorm, so vividly described by Borrow, occurred. At a dinner given at North Walsham the same evening Painter announced that this was his last appearance in the prize ring. Other "festivities" took place the same week. On the 19th there was a "turn up" between Josh Hudson and Belasco on Gurney's bowling-green, Norwich, the former of whom was seconded by Spring and a Norwich amateur, and his opponent by Martin. Thirty-three rounds were fought, in the course of which Hudson dislocated his shoulder and lost. The sum of 10 was collected round the ring. On Sat.u.r.day, 22nd, a benefit was given for Painter in the large room at the Swan Inn, at which most of the above-named pugilists appeared. "The amateurs could not separate without giving a chance to West Country d.i.c.k, who was matched against George Redgrave." The fight was decided in the room.

d.i.c.k won after a contest of eleven rounds occupying sixteen minutes.

-The great main of c.o.c.ks annually fought between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridges.h.i.+re this year fell through. A match was accordingly arranged with the gentlemen of London. It commenced on this date at the Swan Inn, Norwich, for 10 a battle and 100 the odd, and ended on the 19th, when the local sportsmen won by four battles.

Feeders: Nash, sen., for London, Lamb for Norwich.

19.-Married at St. Luke's Chapel, Norwich Cathedral, by the Lord Bishop, the Rev. Heaton C. de Crespigny, second son of Sir W. de Crespigny, Bart., M.P., to Miss Caroline Bathurst, third daughter of his lords.h.i.+p.

AUGUST.

1.-Died in St. John Maddermarket, Norwich, the Rev. Edward Beaumont, "who for 62 years had exercised the functions of a Catholic priest in this city." He took up his residence in Norwich on August 1st, 1758. His remains were interred on August 8th in St. Giles' church after the funeral service had been performed in his own chapel according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church.

2.-A meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, for the purpose of pa.s.sing resolutions expressive of sympathy with her Majesty Queen Caroline. The Mayor (Mr. W. Burt) declined to preside and left the Hall, and Mr. Alderman Leman then took the chair. The resolutions were adopted. The only person who expressed disapproval was Mr. Kerrison Harvey, who narrowly escaped rough handling. An address of congratulation was also adopted, and was presented to the Queen by Mr. N.

Bolingbroke and Mr. Edward Taylor.

11.-Died in St. Margaret's, Norwich, aged 46, Capt. Robert Tinkler, R.N.

"He signalised himself by his intrepid bravery in several engagements, in which he had received twenty-one wounds. Capt. Tinkler was cabin boy on board his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Bounty (Capt. Blyth) at the time the crew of that s.h.i.+p mutinied in the South Seas in 1789, and was one of the twelve persons who with the captain were turned adrift in a boat by the mutineers. Capt. Blyth and his companions, after a voyage of 1,200 leagues, during which the only sustenance they had was one ounce of bread and a quarter of a pint of water each per day, had the good fortune to arrive at the Dutch settlement of Cupan, in the island of Timor."

14.-Jennings, the pedestrian, undertook to walk 100 miles in twenty-two hours at the Prussia Gardens, Norwich. He covered 90 miles in twenty hours eight minutes, "and would have finished with ease, but a misunderstanding having taken place between the timekeepers he thought proper to give up."

19.-A detachment of the 9th Lancers marched into Norwich from Nottingham, under the command of Capt. D'Este.

-The Norfolk Society celebrated the 50th year of its establishment by a dinner at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich. Mr. T. Cubitt, Father of the Society, presided, and Major Payne was vice-chairman. (This was a non-political society.)

-A county meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehouse, Norwich, when resolutions protesting against the mood of proceeding by Bill of Pains and Penalties against her Majesty, Queen Caroline, were adopted. A pet.i.tion for presentation to the House of Commons against the Bill was also agreed to.

The resolutions were moved by the Hon. George Walpole, seconded by the Ven. Archdeacon Bathurst, and supported by Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P. The High Sheriff (Mr. S. Kett) declined to preside, and Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, M.P., dissented from the proceedings as impolitic and unnecessary.

29.-This being the anniversary of the Decollation of St. John an a.s.sembly was held at the Church Hall, Yarmouth, at which the Mayor and Corporation were present, for the purpose of electing a Mayor, chamberlain, churchwardens, and other officers of the borough for the year ensuing.

"The inquest was balloted for and locked up on Tuesday afternoon, and kept without fire, candle, meat, or drink till ten o'clock on Thursday morning, when they returned the following gentlemen as being elected to fill the respective offices:-Mr. John Goat Fisher, Mayor; Mr. William Barth, chamberlain; Mr. T. Bateman and Mr. John Preston, churchwardens."

-A contest for freemen's Sheriff took place at Norwich. Mr. E. T. Booth was elected with 929 votes, against 478 recorded for Mr. Peter Finch.

SEPTEMBER.

1.-Mr. Robert Hamond, shooting in West Norfolk, killed to one brace of pointers, and "without cleaning his gun," 53 brace of partridges, a hare, and a landrail. He missed eight shots, lost only one brace of birds, and had only one double shot. The gun was by Scarlett, of Swaffham.

5.-A prize fight took place on Ashby Common, near Thurton, between c.o.x, the Norwich blacksmith, and Barlee, the Berghapton Groom, for a purse of 25. Walkley and Payne seconded c.o.x, and Ned Painter and Teasdale waited upon Barlee. "The odds were greatly in favour of c.o.x till the 30th round, when Barlee planted some severe blows, and in the 47th round floored his opponent. In the 53rd round c.o.x made a desperate effort and beat, or rather ran down, his opponent in every round till the 80th. The betting was now seven to four in favour of c.o.x. Barlee again exerted himself, and in the next six rounds planted several desperate hits on his adversary's face, and in the 88th round brought c.o.x to the ground by a tremendous blow under the jaw, and won the fight in one hour twenty-three minutes. c.o.x's head and face presented a frightful spectacle, and not a feature of his countenance could be distinguished."