Norfolk Annals
Chapter 45 : 3.-A grand boxing entertainment took place at the White Swan, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwi

3.-A grand boxing entertainment took place at the White Swan, St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, at which Oliver, Fuller, Turner, and Scroggins appeared.

5.-Died at St. George's Colegate, Norwich, aged 67, Mr. John Aldis, who served the office of Sheriff in 1813.

10.-Died, aged 101, Charles Grimmer, of Norwich.

-Died, Mr. George Cobb, of Diss, aged 100.

-James Belcham was executed on Castle Hill, Norwich, for committing a burglary in an outhouse at Castleacre. He was 34 years old, and "left an aged mother, a wife in her last stage of pregnancy, and two children."

The execution was witnessed by many well-dressed women. The culprit was buried in Castleacre churchyard, and on the Sunday following the execution "a funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. Mr. Gibbs to a congregation amounting to 1,000 persons."

15.-A public meeting was held at St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, at which it was decided to pet.i.tion Parliament against the duty of 6s. 6d. per chaldron on coals.

17.*-"We are informed that three cargoes of _foreign barley_ have arrived this week at Yarmouth, which were purchased in London, and that the greater part is already brought to this city (Norwich), where it will be malted. It is a novel circ.u.mstance to have barley in the London markets at such low prices as to induce the Norfolk maltsters to bring it into this great barley county to be manufactured into malt."

-*"Several of those machines denominated Pedestrian Hobby Horses have been exhibited here this week. The principle of this invention is taken from the art of skating, and consists in the simple idea of a seat upon two wheels propelled by the feet acting upon the ground. The riding seat or saddle is fixed on a perch upon two double shod wheels, running after each other, so that they can go upon the footways. To preserve a balance a small board covered and stuffed is placed before on which the arms are laid, and in front of which is a little guiding pole, which is held in the hand to direct the route. The swiftness with which a person can travel is almost beyond belief-eight, nine, or even ten miles an hour may be done on good level ground."

18.-In response to a circular letter issued by the Bishop of Norwich to the clergy of the diocese, sermons were preached at the Cathedral, and at most of the churches in the city and county in aid of the funds of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. The effort was made chiefly with the view of a.s.sisting the Bishop of Calcutta (the Right Rev. Dr. Middleton, formerly of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich), in his benevolent plans to establish Christianity in the East Indies. The collections, subscriptions, and benefactions exceeded 1,800.

19.-A three "double day play of c.o.c.ks" commenced at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridge, for 10 guineas a battle and 200 guineas the odd. Norwich won by a single battle. Feeders: Lamb for Norwich, Thompson for Cambridge.

24.-Master Sewell, the Lincolns.h.i.+re gigantic youth, 13 years of age, and weighing 18 stone, and Miss Elenor Fitzjohn, Queen of the Dwarfs, 19 years old, 30 inches high, and weighing 27 lbs., were exhibited at the Two-Necked Swan, Market Place, Norwich.

-Died at St. Stephen's, Norwich, aged 60, Mr. James Wade, butcher. He served the office of Sheriff in 1810.

26.-James Bigmore, aged 20, left Sudbury at 12.30 noon with the Phenomenon coach by the side of which he ran the whole way thence to Norwich, where he arrived at five minutes to seven o'clock. "To keep up with the coach he was obliged to run eleven miles in the first hour. On arriving at places where the coach stopped he did not take refreshment or repose, but a.s.sisted in putting the horses to at every change. He was not at all distressed on reaching Norwich."

MAY.

1.-At a meeting held at the Rampant Horse Inn, Norwich, it was determined to call a general meeting of the farmers to consider the propriety of establis.h.i.+ng an agricultural a.s.sociation to co-operate with the London General a.s.sociation for the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Agriculture. At the meeting which took place on the 15th the Norfolk a.s.sociation of Agriculturists was duly formed, and on the 29th Mr.

Utting, of Ashwellthorpe, was appointed president.

3.-George Bidder, only 12 years of age, demonstrated in the Old Library Room, St. Andrew's Hall, Norwich, his extraordinary powers of mental calculation. He made a return visit in August.

6.-The Grand Jury at the City Sessions made a presentment to the effect that the Norwich gaol was not capable of being converted into an efficient prison for the purpose of the cla.s.sification of prisoners.

13.-Died, aged 100, Mrs. Hannah Scott, of Holt.

21.-A meeting was held at the a.s.sembly Room, East Dereham, to take into consideration the best means of obtaining navigation between that town and Norwich. A subscription was opened.

22.-Thomas Jennings, pedestrian, ran 18 miles on the turnpike road between Downham Market and Denver in two hours three minutes.

24.-The 24th Regiment of Light Dragoons, commanded by General Loftus, and chiefly composed of Norfolk men enlisted in Norwich, was disbanded at Chatham. The regiment left England in 1796, and was actively employed in India, under Lord Lake, during the Marhatta campaigns, for which service, among other distinctions, it received an honorary standard. In general orders issued on the departure of the regiment from India on October 8th, 1818, its services were very highly spoken of.

26.-A silver candelabrum, valued 200 guineas, was presented to Mr. John Patteson, at the Norfolk Hotel, Norwich, by members of the Norwich Fire and Life Societies, in recognition of the services rendered by him to the inst.i.tutions. Mr. Patteson's collection of pictures by English, Italian, and Flemish artists was this month sold by auction by Mr. Christie, and realised the sum of 2,349.

28.-Pitt's birthday was celebrated by a dinner at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich. Mr. J. Patteson presided.

JUNE.

1.-Died suddenly at Yarmouth, Mr. Thomas Sutton, aged 66. He was surveyor to the Corporation of that borough, and was also surveyor of the works in connection with the erection of the Nelson monument. Mr. Sutton was on the summit of the pillar when he complained of dizziness, and instantly expired.

-Mr. John Watson, of Chapel Field, Norwich, proprietor of the Royal Ipswich Mail coach, issued the following notice:-"As I have been unexpectedly _turned out_ of my coach office in the Angel yard, and have been the proprietor of the Ipswich mail 35 years, I trust you will continue to give that long established _City_ Coach your accustomed protection, and I hope my residence amongst you for seventy-four years will plead so much in my favour, that you will be induced to desire your parcels for the city to be sent to the Maid's Head, St. Simon's, or to Mr. J. M. Murry's, No. 9, Davey Place."

4.-The birthday of George III. was celebrated for the last time in Norwich, Yarmouth, Lynn, East Dereham, and other towns in the county.

5.-"Flying Actaeons" were exhibited at the Prussia Gardens, Norwich, by Messrs. Brously and Stratford. "The machine consists of a chair fixed on to a four-wheeled carriage, in which the rider sits and guides the fore wheels, turning corners in a similar manner to the velocipedes. One hand only, however, is necessary, the other being at liberty to hold an umbrella. The hind wheels, which force the machine along, are put in motion with the feet of the rider by means of two foot-boards moved up and down alternately. With the a.s.sistance of the hand bars in going up steep hills this carriage will travel at the rate of eight miles an hour, and may easily be made for two persons to sit abreast. It is equally convenient for both males and females."

9.-Mr. Kean commenced a short engagement at Norwich Theatre, during which he appeared as Brutus, Sir Giles Overreach, Rolla, and Hamlet.

13.-Died at Cheltenham, aged 63, Thomas Holl, formerly of Norwich, and many years proprietor of the "Worcester Herald."

17.-A grave was opened under peculiar circ.u.mstances in St. Julian's churchyard, Norwich. A woman had died of small-pox, and was buried within 48 hours of her death. It was suspected that she had been buried alive, and the rumour was circulated that groans had been heard proceeding from the grave. On the body being exhumed a medical man p.r.o.nounced life to be extinct.

18.-Died at his house on Castle Meadow, Norwich, aged 53, Mr. William Stevenson, veterinary surgeon. "He was an excellent operator, and stood alone and unrivalled in comparative anatomy and pathology."

-A piece of plate, valued at 100 guineas, was presented at the Half Moon Tavern, Yarmouth, to Mr. N. B. Palmer, in recognition of his services in securing the return to Parliament of the Hon. George Anson and Mr.

Rumbold.

19.-The Norwich and London caravans were advertised to perform the journey in 24 hours. They set out from the Angel Inn at six a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and from the Swan-with-Two-Necks, Lad Lane, London, on Tuesday, Friday, and Sat.u.r.day evening. Goods were conveyed from London to Norwich at 7s. per cwt., and from Norwich to London at 9s. per cwt.

22.-Mr. Nathaniel Bolingbroke was sworn into office as Mayor of Norwich.

There was no guild feast, but 80 of the Mayor's friends dined at the a.s.sembly Rooms in honour of the day.

JULY.

4.-A severe thunderstorm occurred, accompanied by a tremendous hailstorm and a heavy rain. Hundreds of acres of turnips were washed away in various parts of the county. Upwards of 600 worth of damage was done to the wheat and barley crops of Mr. William Ungless, of Whitwell, near Reepham.

5.-Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. In a speech at the dinner Sir John Sinclair confessed that he came to Holkham prejudiced in favour of the broad-cast system of agriculture, but after what he had seen and heard during his visit he was now convinced that the drill system was superior.

8.-Many deaths having occurred from small-pox in Norwich the Mayor, in accordance with a requisition, called a public meeting at the Guildhall, and resolutions were pa.s.sed in favour of general vaccination. From January 6th to the September ensuing 519 deaths were recorded. "There has not been a single death from small-pox in those parishes where vaccination has most prevailed."

9.-Work was completed at the Nelson Monument, Yarmouth, and the scaffolding on the top removed.

12.-The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Mary, with other distinguished personages, paid a visit to Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., at Holkham.

14.-Died at his house in Union Place, Norwich, aged 39, Mr. William Saint, "whose extraordinary mathematical talents advanced him to the honourable situation of professor of that science in the Royal Inst.i.tution at Woolwich." In the latter part of his life he was employed in teaching mathematics in Norwich. His widow was appointed matron of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

20.-A cricket match for 500 was played at Newmarket, between the Holt and Cambridge clubs. Holt, 93-56; Cambridge, 65-34.

27.-A meeting, presided over by the Mayor, was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, for the purpose of "taking into consideration the state of mendicity in the city." The meeting was adjourned until October 22nd, when, on the motion of the Hon. Edward Harbord, it was unanimously resolved to establish a Society for the Suppression of Mendicity in Norwich. At the first annual meeting, held on October 9th, 1820, it was reported that 437 vagrants had been dealt with by the society, and had been relieved with food and lodgings at small expense, and others had been handled over to the magistrates as notorious impostors.

28.-The first anniversary of the King and Const.i.tution Club was celebrated by a dinner at the Maid's Head Inn, Norwich. Mr. Thomas Starling Day was president, and Mr. Skipper, vice-president.