Norfolk Annals
Chapter 21 : -Intelligence was received of the successful attack on the enemy's forts at Cortel

-Intelligence was received of the successful attack on the enemy's forts at Cortela.s.so, between Venice and Trieste, by Capt. Hoste, of the Amphion frigate, who on August 24th captured ten Venetian gun boats and other prizes.

-News reached Norwich of the loss of the Glory, outward bound East Indiaman, Capt. Horatio Beevor, with all the officers, crew, and pa.s.sengers.

30.*-"The quant.i.ty of turkies sent up to town from Norwich within the last ten days amounted to no less than 30 tons weight, which, averaging each bird at 12 lbs., the number would amount to 6,000."

1810.

JANUARY.

6.-The estate of Sir R. Kerrison, deceased, at Thorpe, was sold for 38,219. Carrow Abbey House, with 32 acres of land, was purchased by Mr. P. M. Martineau for 2,020.

8.-A prize fight took place at Thorpe, between Chapman and Pegg, "noted bruisers." It ended in the defeat of Pegg, who sustained a broken jaw.

9.-His Majesty's s.h.i.+p Nemesis struck on Happisburgh Sand. On the following day her guns were thrown overboard, and she was floated off.

18.-Died, in his 76th year, Mr. John Mitch.e.l.l, of New Houghton. "His favourite mule, over 34 years old, at the request of the deceased, went in procession to the grave, and was to have been shot immediately after his return, but through the humane intercession of his granddaughter, Miss Young, the life of this excellent animal was saved, with the promise never to suffer it to be again used." By a singular coincidence, Mr.

Reynolds, surgeon, of Ma.s.singham, while in the act of attending on Mr.

Mitch.e.l.l, died suddenly of the same complaint to which the patient succ.u.mbed.

20.-A reconciliation dinner was held by the corn growers and buyers at the King's Head Inn, Norwich. Mr. Crisp Brown presided. Among the toasts were "May the Buyers and Sellers in future meet together in friends.h.i.+p," and "May the enemies of reconciliation keep a cold water club by themselves." A second dinner was held at the King's Head on March 3rd, under the presidency of Mr. Fellowes.

-*(Advt.) "To be seen at the Angel Inn, Market Place, Norwich, where he will arrive this day, that most wonderful and surprising Yorks.h.i.+re youth, 17 years of age, 7 ft. 6 ins. high, and who weighs upwards of 24 stones, who has had the honour to be introduced to their Majesties and the Royal Family at Windsor, where he was most graciously received and entertained."

25.-At a meeting of corn and coal merchants, held at the King's Head Inn, Norwich, it was resolved, in consequence of the numerous depreciations committed on the river between Norwich and Yarmouth, not to employ any vessel after March 1st, the hatches of which were not secured by locks and iron bars. It was further resolved that every lock be sealed by the merchant before the vessel started upon its voyage.

FEBRUARY.

1.-Died, the eccentric John Fransham, of Norwich. He was well versed in Latin, Greek, and mathematics, of which for many years he was a teacher.

-Died, in her 59th year, Mrs. Martineau, wife of Mr. Philip Meadows Martineau. (Mr. Martineau was re-married on February 18th, 1811, at St.

Peter Permountergate Church, Norwich, by the Rev. C. Elwin, to Mrs.

Somers Clarke, of Tasburgh.)

3.-Bagshaw's menagerie was exhibited on the Castle Ditches, Norwich.

4.-Died, at Gunton, in his 77th year, the Right Hon. Lord Suffield, who represented Norwich from 1756 to 1786.

10.-Mr. and Mrs. Bowles terminated their theatrical career at Norwich Theatre, and took their farewell benefit. There was a crowded audience, and the receipt of the house amounted to 160 15s. 6d. "Equally respectable in private as in public life," said the newspaper notice, "their success in the scholastic line will, we trust, be as flattering and substantial as that of the drama." On March 10th, Mr. Bowles advertised the academy conducted by himself in Queen Street, Great Yarmouth. On July 27th, 1811, it was announced: "Mr. Bowles, of Yarmouth and late of the Theatre Royal, Norwich, qualified as a dissenting minister at the last Quarter Sessions."

14.-The East Dereham Troop of Yeomanry Cavalry presented to Capt. John Crisp a silver cup, "as a mark of respect for his conduct during the twelve years he had commanded them."

20.-At a general meeting of the Norfolk Agricultural Society, it was resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament against the Bill for prohibiting distillation from grain.

22.-Died, at his house on Castle Meadow, Norwich, aged 74, Mr. William Foster, attorney. "He was a promoter of most of the public charities in the city, and the founder of many of them."

24.*-"A farm near Norwich, belonging to the Corporation, and containing not more than 77 acres of profitable land, was lately hired at the astonis.h.i.+ng sum of 263 per annum; and the t.i.thes, being all arable land, have long been 7s. 6d. per acre."

28.-This day was observed as one of solemn fast and humiliation. At Norwich, "nearly all the shops were shut up, and Divine service performed at all the churches. The market was held on Tuesday, instead of Wednesday."

MARCH.

3.*-"There is now living at Oxburgh, in this county, William Durrant, a gardener, who yearly eats 1,095 red herrings, chews 18 lbs. of tobacco, and, to give his nose pleasure, takes 365 ozs. of snuff. The total sum of tobacco, snuff, and red herrings is 13 18s. 10d."

-*(Advt.) "A main will be fought at the Fleece Inn, Wells, on Monday and Tuesday, the 19th and 20th inst., between the gentlemen of Norfolk and Wells. To show 31 c.o.c.ks and 10 byes, and to fight for 10 gs. the battle and 100 the odd; to make four in goes. Feeders: Fisher for Norfolk, Lamb for Wells."

10.*-"During the last eleven months, the period of Miss Harriett Howell's visits to this city, three schools have been established in Norwich, in which no fewer than 294 children are now educated on the plan advocated by Mr. J. Lancaster."

-*"A drover, near Norwich, has attended the market at Smithfield for 25 years, in which time he has ridden on those journeys alone 126,000 miles."

-A court martial was held on his Majesty's s.h.i.+p Utile on a seaman belonging to the Desiree, "at his own request," for striking an officer and using mutinous language. He was sentenced to death.

19.-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford, Thomas William Middleton, for embezzling money the property of Messrs. Gurney and Co., by whom he was employed as clerk, at Fakenham, was sentenced to 14 years'

transportation.

-The panorama, by Serries, of the town and port of Boulogne "with the flotilla, designed to invade this country, at anchor in the outer road,"

was exhibited at Harper's Pantheon, Norwich.

22.-Died in St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, aged 57, Nathaniel Eastaugh, the common crier, and one of the Mayor's beadles, "who except one year held the bell from 1780 up to the time of his death." He was succeeded by Anthony Bailey.

23.-Mr. Joseph Lancaster visited Norwich, and at the Theatre gave lectures on his system of education. At a meeting at the Guildhall on April 17, a free school for boys, on Mr. Lancaster's plan, was established by public subscription.

-Died in St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, aged 72, David Kinnebrook, for 40 years master of one of the charity schools, "who never till his last illness absented himself from the school for a single day."

24.-A large meeting of landowners, occupiers, and Scottish drovers was held at the Rampant Horse Inn, to discuss the right of the Corporation of Norwich to levy tolls upon cattle sold or exhibited for sale at the weekly mart on the Castle Hill. A deputation waited upon the Mayor and the Market Committee, and on April 11th a further meeting, presided over by Sir James Beevor, was held for the purpose of defending any action that might be brought by the Corporation to recover tolls.

APRIL.

3.-For the benefit of the Norwich Theatrical Fund, a performance of "The English Fleet in the year 1342," and of "the grand seriocomic pantomime, called 'Don Juan, or the Libertine destroyed,'" was given at the Theatre Royal.

12.-Died, aged 60, Mr. Thomas Barber, attorney, 27 years secretary of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

19.-Tombland Fair took place. It was stated to be customary on the occasion of this annual event for military bands to play in the Upper Close, which was used as a fas.h.i.+onable promenade. The bands of the 5th Dragoon Guards and the Wilts.h.i.+re Militia were present on this occasion.

23.-The Norwich, Aylsham, and Cromer coach commenced running from 21, Lobster Lane, Norwich, to the Red Lion Inn, Cromer. It left Norwich on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and returned on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sat.u.r.days. The proprietor was Mr. W. Spanton.

28.*-(Advt.) "c.o.c.king. A main will be fought at the Maid's Head Inn, Norwich, on the 14th and 15th days of May next, between the gentlemen of Norfolk and the gentlemen of Ipswich, to show 27 mains for six guineas a battle and 100 guineas the odd; likewise six byes and two turn-outs for five guineas a battle, to make four in goes. A pair of c.o.c.ks in the pit precisely at 12 o'clock. Feeders: Lamb for Norfolk, Smith for Ipswich."

30.-A rare fish called the Opah or King-fish (Chaetodes of Linnaeus) was found on Mundesley beach.