Norfolk Annals
Chapter 33 : 12.-Mr. Crisp Brown, as "Mayor" of the Castle Corporation, Norwich, presented

12.-Mr. Crisp Brown, as "Mayor" of the Castle Corporation, Norwich, presented to Mr. Thomas Back a silver vase in recognition of his "zealous and liberal support of the loyal and const.i.tutional principles of the society."

13.-At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, presided over by the Mayor, it was unanimously resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament against the continuance of the Property Tax under any modification whatever. Both Members for the city supported the resolutions. A meeting of the owners of estates, and other contributors to the Property Tax, in Norfolk, took place at the s.h.i.+rehouse under the presidency of the High Sheriff.

Similar resolutions were adopted on the ground that the tax was "unjust, unequal, and inquisitorial." At Yarmouth, Lynn, and other towns in the county like protests were made.

14.-Equestrian performances were given at Norwich Theatre for a short season, commencing on this date. The "beautiful and surprising troop of horses" appeared in the dramatic spectacles of "Timour, the Tartar,"

"Blue Beard," "The Tiger Horde," and "Lodorska."

-*"All those who have witnessed the performance of Mons. du Pain, at the Angel Inn, Norwich, particularly his emersing his hands and feet in boiling lead, express their astonishment at his feats, and the room is crowded every day."

-*"Died, lately at Lynn, aged 70, Mr. William Munsen, who pursued the employment of a s...o...b..ack. He was reported to be the illegitimate son of a n.o.bleman, and would never accept offers of pecuniary a.s.sistance which were secretly made to him by his unknown parents. He supported himself for 50 years by his humble employment, and was generally known as "Billy Boots." (A detailed account of this individual was compiled by Hone from the notice in the NORFOLK CHRONICLE.)

16.-The fifth great main of c.o.c.ks between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridges.h.i.+re commenced at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, and after a sharp contest, which lasted the two following days, was won by the home representatives by a single battle. Betting was in favour of Cambridges.h.i.+re.

21.*-"The game bull which has been frequently baited near Carrow Abbey is a very gentle animal, but no dog has yet been found that can pin him down."

24.-A prize fight took place between Pegg, "the noted bruiser," and Fox, a horse dealer, of Costessey. "It lasted an hour, when the former received such a 'pegging' that he was carried off in a state of insensibility."

-A sea eagle, measuring seven feet six inches from tip to tip of its expanded wings, and three feet from the crown of its head to the end of its tail, was killed at Rollesby.

FEBRUARY.

4.*-"Messrs. Mackie, of Norwich, in a very handsome and public-spirited manner, have presented the trustees of Carrow Bridge with nearly 500 plants of the Crulean willow, and have also been at the whole expense of planting them on each side of the road leading towards Thorpe."

7.-The new Theatre at Lynn was opened under the management of Mr. John Brunton with "Lovers' Vows" and "Raising the Wind." In addition to the manager, the company included Mr. Foote, of the Theatre Royal, Dublin; Mr. and Mrs. Hall, from the Theatre Royal, York; Mr. Tokeby, Mr. Renaud, Mr. Gomery, and Mrs. Grove, of the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. On the 9th Mr. C. Kemble appeared as Macbeth; on the 11th, Miss Eliza Brunton made "her first appearance on any stage" as Desdemona to Mr. Kemble's Oth.e.l.lo; and on March 25th Mrs. Jordan appeared as Widow Cheerley in "The Soldier's Daughter," and on succeeding evenings as Miss Hoyden in "The Trip to Scarborough," as Widow Belmour, and as Nell in "The Devil to Pay." A brilliant season terminated on April 18th. It was said that "in beauty, simplicity, and correctness of style" this house could "hold compet.i.tion with any theatre out of the Metropolis."

9.-Fifty thousand persons a.s.sembled to witness a balloon ascent by a Mr.

Steward from the Prussia Gardens, Norwich. The balloon rose a short distance and fell in Messrs. Mackie's nursery grounds, went up again and descended in a garden. The mob rushed in, tore the balloon to pieces, and would have roughly handled the aeronaut but for General Money taking him into his carriage and conveying him to a place of safety. A public subscription had been opened for some weeks previously to defray the cost of the ascent; and another list was started to recoup Mr. Steward his loss.

27.-A c.o.c.king match took place at the Lobster Inn, St. John Maddermarket, Norwich, between North Walsham and Norwich. Feeders: Lamb, for North Walsham; Stafford, for Norwich.

MARCH.

1.-The poor freemen of Great Wymer Ward, Norwich, presented a silver cup, of the value of 50 guineas, to Mr. Samuel Mitch.e.l.l, one of the nominees of the ward.

-A match was decided at Blickling Park between three horses belonging respectively to Mr. Sheppard and Mr. Roper, of Coleby, and Mr. Wright, of Aylsham. The best of three one mile heats was won by Mr. Sheppard's horse. A second race between two horses, the property of Mr. Gay, of Oulton, and Mr. Smith, of Aylsham, was won by the former.

4.-Died, at Drayton, Sarah Codenham, aged 105. "This poor woman had been so long in poverty and affliction that, according to the overseer's calculation, she had cost them 500."

8.-At a meeting held at the Guildhall, and presided over by the Mayor, it was resolved to pet.i.tion the House of Lords against the Corn Bill, which had been pa.s.sed by the House of Commons by a majority of 119. (The Bill was pa.s.sed by the Lords and received the Royal a.s.sent on the 23rd.)

15.-The Expedition coach arrived in Norwich "with the gratifying account displayed in large letters on its panels" of the ratification of the Treaty of Peace with America. The bells of St. Peter Mancroft were rung, and a bonfire was lighted in the Market Place.

17.-Mr. T. W. c.o.ke, M.P., Lord Albemarle, and other gentlemen, while attending a cattle show held on the Castle Ditches, Norwich, by the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation, were attacked by a mob in consequence of their supposed support of the Corn Bill before the House of Commons.

The mob drove them into the Angel yard, and it was not until the Brunswick Hussars had been called out, and the Riot Act read, that the disturbance was quelled. By strategy Mr. c.o.ke and his friends escaped through the back gate of the Angel Inn and drove to Quidenham Hall. Some of the rioters were apprehended, and one of the Brunswickers was wounded by a stone. The Mayor and magistrates of Norwich received the commendations of Government for their activity and exertions in suppressing the disturbance. The Grand Jury at the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford on March 29th, resolved "to enter into a subscription to bring to justice the instigators of the late premeditated attack on Mr.

c.o.ke and other gentlemen." On May 2nd the Corporation of Norwich accorded their thanks to Col. Von Tempsky and the officers and privates of the Brunswick Hussars for their prompt a.s.sistance in quelling the riot.

-A curious race took place in Chapel Field, Norwich. The compet.i.tors were Thomas Jenner and William Palmer, "two men with two wooden legs each." The wager of 1 was won by the former.

25.-In the official year, ending this date, Norfolk (including Norwich) raised the sum of 219,238 10s. 1d. for the poor, church rate, highway rates, &c.

27.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, which commenced at Thetford on this date, before Mr. Justice Heath, a curious case, the King _v._ Garratt, was heard. This was a criminal indictment which had been moved by _certiorari_ into the Court of King's Bench, and was tried at _nisi prius_. "It was for a nuisance complained of by the exposition of a stallion in the public market of East Dereham." The Judge was of opinion that the mere fact of leading a stallion to market was not an offence indictable at law, and the defendant was acquitted.

A number of human bones and upwards of 20 urns, containing bones in a calcined state, were this month dug up at a farm at Markshall, adjoining the Roman camp at Caister, near Norwich.

APRIL.

6.-A new farce ("written by an eminent artist resident in the city"), founded upon the story of "John Gilpin," and interspersed with music, was produced at the Theatre Royal, Norwich. On the 17th another new production was staged, "an historical operatic drama in two acts, called 'The Rebellion, or Norwich in 1549,'" by Mr. George P. Bromley, a member of the Norwich Company.

22.-Died, at his son's house in Weymouth Street, London, aged 67, Mr.

William Wilkins, of Newnham, near Cambridge, patentee of the Norwich Theatre Royal.

-The staff of the West Norfolk Militia, stationed in Norwich, received orders to raise men by beat of drum instead of by ballot. Recruiting parties were sent out for that purpose. It was announced on May 13th that these parties, under the direction of Capt. Borrow, had been very successful in obtaining men.

24.-A smuggling lugger was captured off Hunstanton by the Tiger revenue cutter with 840 tubs of Geneva on board.

26.-Died, at Norwich, aged 89, Dr. John Beevor, an eminent physician.

MAY.

2.-The Norwich Court of Guardians having employed surveyors at a great expense to make new a.s.sessments of property in the several parishes within the walls of the city for the purpose of equalising the poor-rates, St. Saviour's Vestry meeting pa.s.sed a resolution protesting against it on the ground that it would have the effect of increasing both general and local taxes. The vestries of other parishes pa.s.sed similar resolutions. At this time the Norwich Guardians raised about 20,000 annually for the relief of the poor.

11.-Early in the morning a boat's crew from his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Cadmus, at Yarmouth, when pa.s.sing down the river to the harbour's mouth with impressed seamen, were attacked by a mob on both banks, and several of the sailors were severely wounded with stones. The mob seized the gig belonging to the Cadmus and destroyed her. The Admiralty offered a reward of 20 for the conviction of the offenders. At the Norfolk a.s.sizes held at Norwich on August 14th, 1816, before Lord Chief Justice Gibbs, seven persons were indicted for riotously a.s.sembling and rescuing from the press gang, legally authorised, a person who had been impressed.

The defendants, with one exception, were found guilty. In the following December they were sentenced in the Court of King's Bench to nine months'

imprisonment each.

13.-Died, in St. Giles' Street, Norwich, aged 20, Mr. H. Fisher, son of Mr. David Fisher, manager of the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians.

18.-At this date a series of disturbances occurred at Norwich Theatre.

Mr. F. A. Vining, a member of the company, in a letter dated May 18th, and addressed to the patrons of the Theatre, referred to the "injustice and cruelty which had been heaped upon him within its walls." He had left Norwich to accept an engagement at Covent Garden Theatre and appeared there with success for 90 or 100 nights. At the end of the London season he accepted a further engagement at Norwich, when, it was alleged, that Mr. Vining, "being found unworthy of a situation in another theatre," Mr. Jones, a member of the Norwich Company, was "discharged to make room for him." Mr. Vining denied any personal knowledge of the matter. On May 29th several friends of Mr. Jones were committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions for creating disturbances at the Theatre.

At the Quarter Sessions on July 11th the recognisances of the sureties who had been bound over for the accused were discharged, "it being the intention of the prosecution to prefer an indictment at the ensuing a.s.sizes." At the a.s.sizes held on July 25th the Grand Jury found true bills against the defendants, when the indictments were traversed and the accused discharged till the next a.s.sizes. On that occasion the defendants entered into recognisances to appear at the next ensuing a.s.sizes, and no further record is given.

20.*-"The diversion of hawking, a sport antiently much used, has been revived in this country on a considerable scale by Lord Rivers, Major Wilson, of Didlington, and Mr. Downes, of Gunton. Their subscription hawks, under the management of German falconers, have afforded much amus.e.m.e.nt to numerous spectators. Last week they were exhibited at Newmarket after the races, and flown off at some rooks in the Flat, which they speedily brought down."

25.-A Methodist Missionary Society for the Norwich District was formed at a meeting held at Calvert Street, Norwich.

29.-The prisoners in the City Gaol, Norwich, returned thanks to the Mayor and Corporation "for 10s. worth of beer given them on the anniversary of King Charles Restoration."

JUNE.