Norfolk Annals
Chapter 42 : On a ballot in the common council-room there were 24 for and 24 against the addresses.

On a ballot in the common council-room there were 24 for and 24 against the addresses. The Speaker (Mr. Samuel Stone) gave his casting vote in favour of the addresses, which accordingly became acts of a.s.sembly.

6.-The birthday of Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., was celebrated at Harleston, Wells, Wymondham, and other places by public dinners.

12.-A prize fight took place on a field near Thorpe Asylum between William c.o.x, blacksmith, and John Camplin, a Norwich weaver. "Among the spectators were a great number of females." Camplin was seconded by Ned Painter, and c.o.x by Wharton. Twenty-nine rounds were fought in 42 minutes for 5 a side. c.o.x won. Another fight between Pegg and Short, "who milled each other for more than an hour," resulted in the victory of the latter.

13.-A new gallery erected in North Walsham church was opened with a grand selection of sacred music from the works of Handel, under the direction of Messrs. Fish and Card, of Norwich. The princ.i.p.al vocal performers were Mrs. Card, Mr. Frewer, and Mr. Barron, and the choruses were supported by performers from the Norwich concerts, and by the Cathedral choristers.

16.-Died at Lynn, Ann Crawforth, aged 104, supposed to be the oldest member of the Methodist Society.

18.-Miss Brunton, granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, the former manager, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Let.i.tia Hardy ("The Belle's Stratagem").

Her other characters during the engagement were Miss Hardcastle, Rosalind, and Lady Elizabeth ("The Day after the Wedding").

19.-A new peal of six bells, cast and hung by William Dobson, of Downham Market, was opened at Northwold. Prizes of ten guineas and five guineas were offered to competing companies who performed the best and next best peals of 720 complete changes. The New Buckenham and Hopton ringers were adjudged equal.

-At the Norwich Consistory Court, sentence of suspension for two years was pa.s.sed by the Rev. William Young, Chancellor, on the Rev. Edward Leathes, rector of Reedham with Freethorpe, for neglecting to perform his ministerial duties in those churches for about eight months in the course of the years 1816 and 1817.

20.-Bull-baiting took place on Carrow Hills, Norwich. "The game old bull resisted every effort of the well-seasoned dogs, and remained master of the ring. A young bull was afterwards brought in, who is to be trained up to exercise the rising generation of the canine species, and for the amus.e.m.e.nt of the lovers of this fine art."

-A rowing match between two four-oared boats, the Swift and the Adriadne, took place from Carrow to Whitlingham. The Swift, "rowed by four brothers of the name of Lanham, well known on the stream," won. "The match was for each other's boat, valued complete at 14 or 15." (This is the first instance in which the names of the rowers are given.)

28.-The annual dinner in commemoration of Pitt's birthday was held at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich, under the presidency of the Hon. Col. Wodehouse.

-Tenders were invited for taking down the existing and building the new bridge, at h.e.l.lesdon, either of timber or iron. The Corporation on June 30 accepted the tender of Mr. Frost to build an iron bridge for 1,140.

30.-Miss Byrne began a short engagement at Norwich Theatre, during which she appeared in favourite comic operas and musical entertainments. Her impersonations included Adela ("The Haunted Tower") and Rosina.

-*(Advt.) "A match of c.o.c.ks will be fought at the Angel Inn, St.

Stephen's, Norwich, on June 15th and 16th, between the gentlemen of Norfolk and the gentlemen of Norwich, to show fifteen mains and five byes. To fight for 5 a battle and 20 the odd. Feeders: Stafford for Norfolk, Lamb for Norwich."

31.-Died at Wakefield, Mr. Fitzgerald, manager of the Leeds, Lincoln, Sheffield, and Hull Theatres, and many years a favourite performer in the Norwich Company.

JUNE.

1.-Mr. Charles Harvey, M.P., issued an address to the electors of Norwich, in which he announced his intention of declining to offer himself for re-election.

2.-Died at Coltishall, Mr. William Warrant, aged 100 years.

4.-The 81st birthday of George III. was celebrated in Norwich. The Mayor and Corporation, preceded by a band of music, went in state to the Cathedral.

8.-A camping match, Norfolk against Suffolk, took place at Kirby Cane for 10 a side, and, after a spirited contest, Norfolk won. "This is the first _thorough boxing camping match_ which has taken place for these last 35 years, and considering that not five out of the twenty individuals who played had ever before been engaged in any pugilistic contest, it was astonis.h.i.+ng to observe the spirit of gallantry which animated both parties. The spectators amounted to some thousands, among whom were many gentlemen of rank and fortune."

9.-Parliament having been dissolved and the writ for the election received, Mr. W. Smith and Mr. R. H. Gurney, the "Blue and White"

candidates, made their public entry into Norwich. The Hon. Edward Harbord, the "Orange and Purple" candidate, was met at Mile End on the 11th. His barouche was drawn into the city by the crowd, and a large cavalcade of freeholders and freemen was in attendance. Thence until the day of election there was an active canva.s.s in the city, and party feeling ran high.

15.-Seaman's Museum of Natural History was exhibited on Orford Hill, Norwich.

16.-Guild Day at Norwich. Many members of the freemen's clubs, with blue and white favours in their hats, and with party flags flying, marched into the Market Place in order to attend the new Mayor to the Cathedral.

Alderman Herring protested against such a display of party feeling on this day. Mr. Smith, the Parliamentary candidate, addressed the people from a window in the Market Place, saying that anything like party appeared to be indecorous on such an occasion, and he for one should put his colours into his pocket. His example, however, was not generally followed. After service at the Cathedral Mr. Barnabas Leman was sworn in as Mayor, and the guild feast, given in St. Andrew's Hall, was attended by 300 guests.

17.-Norwich Election began on this day, and the poll closed on the day following at 1.30 p.m., with the following result:-W. Smith, 2,089; R. H.

Gurney, 2,032; the Hon. Edward Harbord, 1,475. The two first-named were returned.

-Thetford Election: Lord C. Fitzroy and Mr. N. R. Colbourne were returned without a contest, on the withdrawal of Mr. Webster.

-Castle Rising Election: Lord Rocksavage and the Hon. F. Greville Howard were returned unopposed.

18.-Lynn Election: Lord Walpole and Sir M. B. ffolkes were returned unopposed.

19.-Yarmouth Election: The Hon. George Anson, 780; C. E. Rumbold, 760; E.

K. Lacon, 651; General Loftus, 612. The two first-named were elected.

23.-Norfolk Election: Mr. T. W. c.o.ke and Mr. E. Wodehouse were returned unopposed. Mr. Philip Hamond, of Westacre, opened a canva.s.s in opposition to Mr. Wodehouse, but relinquished it on the eve of the election. After the chairing Mr. c.o.ke and his friends dined at the Swan Inn, Norwich, and Mr. Wodehouse and his supporters at the Angel Inn. At night the members attended the ball at Chapel Field House, where the dancing was opened by Mr. c.o.ke and Mrs. Micklethwaite and by Mr.

Wodehouse and Mrs. N. Bacon.

Dr. C. Brown, of Margaretta Farm, and Mr. T. B. Plestow, of Watlington Hall, received, this month, the honour of knighthood.

JULY.

4.-Spring, Scroggins, Purcell, and other celebrated pugilists, gave a boxing display at the Swan Inn, Norwich.

6.-Died, aged 78, Mr. Richard Beatniffe, many years a well-known bookseller in Norwich.

-Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. The only new implements exhibited were a manure drill, by Mr. Frost, of Saham, and a self-sowing dibbling machine, by Mr. Woodward, of Norwich.

12.-A severe drought of nine weeks' duration was ended on this day by a "joyful rain."

-A new light post coach, called "The Day," carrying four insides and ten outsides, commenced running from the Angel Inn, Market Place, Norwich, to the Crown and Anchor Tavern, the Quay, Yarmouth. The journey occupied three hours each way, and the coach was owned by T. S. Coldwell and Co.

13.-Races for hackneys, hunters, and ponies, took place at Wells-next-the-Sea, upon "a fine level width of firm beach sand." An immense concourse of spectators attended.

15.-Died at St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, aged 72, Capt. James Murray, adjutant of the 2nd Regiment of Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, and formerly captain in the 9th Regiment of Foot. He served with distinction during the whole of the American War.

16.-The first stone of a new bridge at Letheringsett was laid by Mrs.

Best, of Bayfield Hall. The company, after being entertained to breakfast by Mr. William Hardy, proceeded through his gardens to a deep excavation in the bed of the river, where the stone was placed in position amid the cheers of the spectators and the firing of guns.

20.-The performances of Mr. David Fisher's company in "the elegant little theatre" at East Dereham, terminated on this date, "when the performers a.s.sembled on the stage and drank a parting gla.s.s and bade farewell of the crowded audience amid shouts of applause."

22.-A grand cricket match played on Newmarket Heath for 330 guineas a side, between the Holt and Newmarket clubs. It concluded on the 23rd, when the score was as follows:-Newmarket, 84-101; Holt, 114-74.

23.-A silver cup was rowed for by three boats at Norwich, and won by the Apollo (Bacon). Distance, five miles; time, 38 minutes.

-A troop of the 15th Light Dragoons (King's Hussars), commanded by Major Cochrane, marched into Norwich to relieve the 5th Dragoon Guards, who the same day set out for York.

25.*-"Mr. Case, a respectable farmer, at Stratton Strawless, lately sustained a loss of 30 young turkies and 11 goslings, all which a voracious fat sow devoured after a hearty breakfast."