Norfolk Annals
Chapter 39 : -Norwich Infantry Barracks (disused) were sold by auction, without reserve, by Mr. R. C

-Norwich Infantry Barracks (disused) were sold by auction, without reserve, by Mr. R. Cana, auctioneer.

4.-A terrible explosion occurred on Wright's Norwich and Yarmouth steam packet at Foundry Bridge, Norwich. Of the 22 persons on board, five men, three women, and a child were killed; six women with fractured legs and arms were conveyed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where one died; and the remaining seven escaped without sustaining material injury. The sum of 350 was raised for the relief of the sufferers. A boat worked by horse power was subsequently placed upon the river. "The four horses walked as in a thras.h.i.+ng machine or mill. Each in his path which was 18 feet in diameter. The horses by walking a distance of two miles propelled the vessel six or seven miles."

5.-A county meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, pursuant to requisition and presided over by the High Sheriff (Mr. H. N. Burroughes), "for the purpose of congratulating the Prince Regent on his escape from the late atrocious attack upon his person, and of praying his Royal Highness to dismiss from his presence and councils those advisers who, by their conduct, had proved themselves to be alike enemies to the Throne and the people." The resolutions were moved by the Earl of Albemarle, seconded by Mr. S. T. Southwell, and supported by Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., and the Rev. George Glover. They were opposed by the Hon. Col.

Wodehouse, Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, Mr. Serjeant Firth, and Mr. J. Harvey.

The High Sheriff declared the resolutions to be carried "by a most decided majority." An address founded on the resolutions was also adopted, and was presented to the Prince Regent by Mr. c.o.ke at the Levee on April 21st.-In consequence of these proceedings a doc.u.ment, known as the "Norfolk Declaration," was signed by upwards of 900 n.o.blemen, gentlemen, clergy, and freeholders of the county, who considered the Ministers "eminently ent.i.tled to the grat.i.tude of their Sovereign and the country." The Declaration was presented to the Prince Regent at the Levee at Carlton House on July 1st, by the Lord Lieutenant of the county, accompanied by the Earl of Orford, the Earl of Ancram, Lord C. Townshend, the Hon. Col. Wodehouse, the Hon. Edward Harbord, Mr. Edmund Bacon, Mr.

Edmond Wodehouse, M.P., Mr. Charles Harvey, M.P., &c.

7.-Mr. Incledon commenced a five nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre previous to his departure to America. He appeared as Hawthorn ("Love in a Village"), and Harry Blunt ("The Turnpike Gate").

14.-A "three double days' play of c.o.c.ks" commenced at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridges.h.i.+re, for 10 guineas a battle and 200 guineas the odd.

Feeders: Fisher for Norwich, Thompson for Cambridges.h.i.+re. The match was won by Cambridges.h.i.+re.

-A peal of eight bells, including a new tenor cast by Mears, of London, was opened at North Elmham by the St. Peter Mancroft company of ringers, who rang 5,040 changes of Norwich Court Bob in three hours nineteen minutes.

16.-A new tragedy, ent.i.tled "Edwin, Heir of Cressingham," founded on Mrs.

Porter's historical romance, "The Scottish Chiefs," and written by Mr.

Edward Ball, of Norwich, was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time, and received with much applause.

21.-Mr. A. T. Fayerman, "surgeon professor" to the "Royal Medical Inst.i.tution," Red Lion Street, Norwich, presented to the Prince Regent, at the Levee at Carlton House, the first annual report of the proceedings of the inst.i.tution, with an address from "the Brunswick Knights of Norwich, and the two lodges of the Ancient and Royal Order of Stagorians," congratulating his Royal Highness on his "escape from the late attack." The Knights and Stagorians, with a band of music and colours, set out from the Rampant Horse Inn to meet their President on his return to Norwich on the 22nd, "but the harmony and conviviality of the meeting were completely outraged by the a.s.sembled mob, who broke the windows of Mr. Simmon's house at Prussia Gardens, tore up the shrubs, threw vollies of stones at the processionists who were on horseback, and broke the windows of Mr. Fayerman's house in Red Lion Street." (The Stagorians were a society founded in 1728.)

28.-Died, at his house in Berners Street, London, aged 61, Sir Jacob Henry Astley, Bart., M.P. He was succeeded in his t.i.tle by his eldest son.

-Died in St. Giles', Norwich, Mrs. E. Layton, aged 100 years.

MAY.

1.-Mr. Crisp Brown and Mr. Thomas Thurtell, the two senior aldermen below the chair, were returned to the Norwich Court of Aldermen without opposition, and on the 3rd Mr. Brown was unanimously elected Mayor.

5.-Mr. A. Guggle, of Wells-next-the-Sea, introduced an "improved double bathing machine, so constructed as to render it perfectly safe at all times, and regulated in a few seconds to any depth of water preferred by the bather."

8.-The Norwich Court of Guardians ordered a new valuation of property in the city and hamlets.

19.-The election to fill the vacancy caused in the representation of the county by the death of Sir H. J. Astley, commenced at Norwich. The candidates were Mr. E. R. Pratt, of Ryston, and Mr. Edmond Wodehouse, of Sennowe Lodge. The polling continued for five days and closed on the 23rd, when the result was declared as follows:-Wodehouse, 3,896; Pratt, 3,321.

27.-Died at his seat, Great Melton Hall, aged 86, Sir John Lombe, Bart.

He was succeeded in his t.i.tle by his great nephew, Mr. Richard Paul Jodrell. The deceased baronet bequeathed his large estates to Mr. Edward Beevor, of the Middle Temple, barrister-at-law, who by special Act of Parliament, which received the Royal a.s.sent on July 7th, was authorised to a.s.sume the surname and bear the arms of Lombe instead of those of Beevor, in compliance with a condition in the will of the deceased.

28.-The birthday of Mr. Pitt was celebrated by a dinner at the a.s.sembly Rooms, Norwich, at which Mr. Charles Harvey, M.P., presided.

-Died at St. George's Tombland, Norwich, Mrs. Phbe Crow, aged 77, "who in 40 years' practice as a midwife brought into the world 9,730 children."

31.-Mr. Betty appeared as Hamlet at Norwich Theatre on the closing night of the season, when Mr. Smith, the new manager, delivered an address at the conclusion of the performance.

-The Brampton Indianman was launched from Mr. Bottomley's yard, and the Wodehouse brig from Messrs. Lauker and Spong's yard, King's Lynn.

JUNE.

4.-King George III. entered upon his 80th year. The event was celebrated in Norwich by the ringing of bells and by a parade of the Light Horse Volunteers and Yeomanry Cavalry.

9.-Two thousand spectators were present at "the 10th annual grand wrestling match for prizes given by a society of amateurs for the encouragement of gymnastic exercises," held at Kirby Cane. There were 24 compet.i.tors, and the winner was Martin Hingle.

17.-Guild Day at Norwich. Mr. Crisp Brown, the Mayor elect, observed all the ancient customs, and entertained 300 guests at the guild feast.

18.-A meeting of resident gentry, clergy, yeomanry, and princ.i.p.al householders of North Greenhoe and Brothercross Hundreds, was held at Wells-next-the-Sea, under the presidency of Sir William Bolton, when resolutions were pa.s.sed expressive of their deep concern at the insults offered to Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., at a meeting held at Norwich on the previous Sat.u.r.day and during the county election, and an address was ordered to be presented in accordance with the terms of the resolutions.

19.-Mr. Mathews gave his entertainment, "Mail Coach Adventures," at Norwich Theatre.

22.-Moses Levi, aged 62, "of the Jewish persuasion," was baptised by the Rev. George Baldero at the parish church of Rainham St. Martin.

25.-A severe hailstorm occurred in West Norfolk. Some of the hailstones measured six inches in circ.u.mference. Much damage was done. Many rooks were afterwards found dead.

JULY.

5.-Haddock's exhibition of automata was opened in the Great Room, Davey Place, Norwich.

7.-At the Holkham Sheep Shearing, which commenced on this date, the address voted at Wells-next-the-Sea on June 18th was presented to Mr. T.

W. c.o.ke, M.P., who, in reply, said he did not attribute blame to the poorer cla.s.ses who had been deluded into the belief that he was their enemy, but he did blame the Mayor of Norwich, who, in his official capacity, should have prevented what had taken place. These remarks led to a very long and acrimonious newspaper correspondence.

9.-The Rev. Charles Nourse Wodehouse was installed a prebendary of Norwich Cathedral, in place of the Rev. John Pretyman, D.D., who died at Lincoln on June 5th.

15.-The salt marshes near Wells-next-the-Sea were inundated by a high tide during a northerly gale, and nearly 300 sheep, the property of Messrs. Tuthill, Moore, and John Blomfield, of Warham, were drowned.

-A meeting of the gentry, clergy, and yeomen of the Hundreds of Guiltcross and Shropham was held at East Harling, under the presidency of the Earl of Albemarle, when an address was voted to Mr. c.o.ke, M.P., and presented to him at Thetford Wool Fair on July 26th.

19.-Thomas Carter was publicly whipped in Norwich Market Place for stealing a cow.

-At the Norwich Court of Mayoralty, the Mayor stated that complaints had been made to him of offences committed in the city by bakers, foggers, and others, exercising their trades on Sunday. The Court gave notice that it was not lawful "to make or bake any bread, rolls, or cakes of any sort or kind on the Lord's Day, commonly called Sunday," nor to deliver them "at any time after half past one of the clock in the afternoon of that day."

24.-Skipper, the pedestrian, undertook for a wager of 25 guineas to walk from Norwich to Thetford and back, a distance of 55 miles, in 12 hours.

"He walked 54 miles, but having only four minutes to perform the last mile, gave in."

AUGUST.

6.-Died at his house in the Lower Close, Norwich, aged 55, Mr. Frank Sayers, M.D., author of "Poems, including Sketches of the Northern Mythology," and "Disquisitions, Metaphysical and Literary, Antiquarian and Historical." A monument, with a Latin inscription by the Rev. F.

Howes, was erected in the Cathedral to the memory of the deceased.

7.-Died at Hoveton St. John, Mr. Thomas Blofeld, D.L., for many years one of the chairmen of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions.

11.-Sports were held at Reedham under the patronage of Mr. Layton, of Reedham Hall. The princ.i.p.al event was a wrestling match, taken part in "by twenty-four as fine athletic young fellows as England can produce."