Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 44

Remarkably mild weather was experienced during this month. The cuckoo was heard at the beginning, and vegetation advanced till the middle of the month.

1819.

JANUARY.

12.-A new peal of six bells hung in St. Gregory's Church by Mr. Hurry, of Norwich, was opened by the St. Peter Mancroft ringers, and a dinner in commemoration of the event took place at the Old Goat, Goat Lane.

13.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions was tried the appeal Burrows _v._ J.

Stracey. The appellant was the keeper of the Norfolk and Norwich Arms public-house at Sprowston, and was convicted by the respondent under 26th George III., for selling beer without a licence, when in reality he then had a licence authorising him to do so from the Supervisor of Excise for Norwich under certificate from the magistrates of that city. He appealed against the conviction on the ground that the county magistrates had not the power to grant him such licence, his house being situated in the county of the city of Norwich, and not within the county of Norfolk as contended by the respondent. Counsel for the appellant produced the Charter made in the reign of Philip and Mary, whereby various lands lying in the county were granted to the Corporation of Norwich, amongst which was that part of Sprowston where the appellant's house stood. The Town Clerk of Norwich was called for the respondent, and said he never remembered the magistrates of the city having exercised acts of jurisdiction over the locality in question, nor had it ever paid rates to the city. The court confirmed the conviction.

14.-Died at his apartments in Drury Lane, London, Mr. E. H. Seymour, formerly of Norwich Theatre. He was author of a work dedicated to Sheridan-"Remarks Critical, Conjectural, and Explanatory on the Works of Shakespeare."

23.-Madame Tussaud's collection of "composition figures representing ninety public characters" was exhibited at the Angel Inn, Norwich.

25.-The Fox birthday dinner, held at the Norwich a.s.sembly Rooms, was presided over by the Earl of Albemarle, who was supported by Mr. T. W.

c.o.ke, M.P., Viscount Bury, the High Sheriff, and Mr. W. Smith, M.P.

29.-The Rev. Levi Walton was elected headmaster of the Free School, Scarning, in place of the Rev. St. John Priest, whose predecessor was the Rev. Robert Potter, Prebendary of Norwich Cathedral.

It was announced this month that Mr. Thomas Clabburn, of All Saints, Norwich, had left the following bequests: To the parishes of St. John Timberhill, St. Michael-at-Thorn, St. Michael-at-Coslany, and St. John Sepulchre, 200 each; and to All Saints' and St. Paul's, 400 each; the interest to be given in bread and coals the first Monday in February each year. To the parish of Tasburgh, 400; and to Tharston, Flordon, and Newton Flotman, 200 each; the interest to be applied in like manner. To the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, 800; to the Treasurer of Cook's Hospital, 800; and the like sum to the Hospital, on trust, "that the poor women therein might receive one s.h.i.+lling each every Monday for ever"; to the Bethel, 200; and a like sum to seven of the benevolent inst.i.tutions in Norwich.

FEBRUARY.

2.-The pet.i.tion of the Norwich Grand Jury at the last Summer a.s.sizes, praying for two general gaol deliveries in the year, was presented to the House of Commons by Mr. W. Smith. Mr. Colborne, member for Thetford, presented another pet.i.tion from the Mayor and Corporation of that borough, praying that there should be no change in the existing arrangements. On the 24th the Corporation of Norwich pet.i.tioned Parliament in favour of a.s.sizes being held twice a year in the city.

-At a general Court of Guardians held at Norwich, Dr. Rigby reported that small-pox had made its appearance in several parishes in the city, and an order was made that the city surgeons vaccinate all poor persons desirous of availing themselves of their a.s.sistance.

3.-Mr. J. W. H. Payne, a native of Norwich, where he was formerly a printer and bookseller, "being reduced in circ.u.mstances was allowed to appear at the Theatre in the character of Hamlet. He succeeded in exciting the risibility of the other performers, and the loud laughter of the audience."

IMPROMPTU ON MR. PAYNE'S PERFORMANCE AS HAMLET.

"Let mortal man his grief and care give o'er, Nor crave the aid of potion or of pill; For Payne now makes our sides with laughter sore, And, tho' he threatens, yet-neglects to kill."

8.-Mr. Mathews appeared at Norwich Theatre as Solomon Gundy ("Who Wants a Guinea?"). His impersonations on succeeding evenings included Scrub ("The Beaux' Stratagem") and Goldfinch ("The Road to Ruin"). He also gave his entertainments, "A Trip to Paris," "At Home," and "The Actor of All Work."

9.-At a general meeting of the Norwich Paving Act Commissioners a plan submitted by Mr. Gostling, of Birmingham, for lighting the city with gas was taken into consideration, and on the motion of Mr. P. M. Martineau it was agreed, by 26 votes to 17, that "it is expedient to light such parts of the city with gas on the plan suggested and that the necessary steps be taken to carry the plan into effect." A committee was also appointed to further the project. On September 30th a meeting was held at the Guildhall for the purpose of receiving information relative to the proposed introduction of oil gas. The meeting was adjourned until the 25th, when the Mayor was invited to call a public meeting. The Paving Commissioners met on October 12th, when permission was given to break up the streets to lay down pipes, provided that such breaches were repaired to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor at the expense of the promoters.

A public meeting was held on October 26th, at which it was recommended that a company be formed for the purpose of lighting the city with oil gas, and that not less than 2,500 be raised in shares of 25 each for carrying the resolution into effect. Two separate bodies appear to have come into existence, the one known as the Oil Gas Company, and the other as the Oil Gas Community. These bodies adjusted their differences, and on December 1st Mr. Charles Harvey obtained leave in the House of Commons to bring in a Bill for lighting with gas the city and county of the city of Norwich. The Bill was read a second time on December 21st, and in due course became law. On January 31st, 1820, the first of the iron gas pipes were laid in the Market Place; and on May 10th, 1820, the street lamps and burners in several shops were lighted with gas for the first time. "In the Market Place it produced a strong and steady light as far as it extended, and before Messrs. Bignold's house and office in Surrey Street, where there were three lamps, the effect was brilliant."

12.-A salmon measuring 48 inches in length, 23 inches in girth, and weighing 33 lbs., was caught at the New Mills, Norwich. "These fish, which are frequently taken in the same place, are mistaken by some for trouts or salmon trouts."

15.-Miss Booth, of Covent Garden Theatre, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Let.i.tia Hardy ("The Belle's Stratagem"). Her other impersonations included Little Pickle ("The Spoiled Child"), Helen Worret ("Man and Wife"), Priscilla Tomboy ("The Romp"), Angela ("The Castle Spectre"), Amanthus ("Child of Nature"), and Mary ("The Innkeeper's Daughter").

16.-Miss f.a.n.n.y Brunton made her _debut_ at Lynn Theatre as Una ("The Wood Demon"). Mr. Brunton spoke an introductory address. At the close of the Lynn season, Mr. Brunton and his company proceeded to Birmingham, where he had engaged the Theatre on his own account.

18.-Died in London, Sir Thomas Berners Plestow, Kt., of Watlington Hall, aged 70.

20.-Elizabeth Wells, wife of Robert Wells, of Gressenhall, gave birth to four living children-three boys and a girl.

24.-The honorary freedom of the city was conferred upon Mr. R. H. Gurney, M.P., for Norwich.

-The portrait, by Clover, of Mr. B. Leman, Alderman of Norwich, was ordered to be placed in St. Andrew's Hall.

-The Corporation of Norwich pet.i.tioned Parliament praying that the punishment of death for the crime of forgery be commuted for one less severe, and for a general revision of the penal laws.

27.-One John Larkin was apprehended at Norwich "on a strong suspicion of being the person who stole a bag containing 4,739 in notes belonging to the Fakenham bank, on August 13th, 1817, from the messenger's gig, which was conveying it from Messrs. Gurney's bank in Norwich." (There is no further reference to this case.)

Died, this month, aged 100, Thomas Goodings, carpenter, of Lammas.

MARCH.

7.-Died, in her 89th year, Mrs. Mary Murray, widow of Dr. John Murray, of Norwich. "Possessing a disposition congenial with that of her late excellent husband, her long life was distinguished by the practice of benevolence and of every Christian virtue."

8.-A new tragedy, ent.i.tled "Bertha," written by Mr. Edward Ball, of Norwich, was produced for the first time at Norwich Theatre.

-A public meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which a subscription was raised for the relief of the distressed inhabitants of the Scilly Islands. It amounted to 315.

9.-The Hon. Edward Harbord, the unsuccessful candidate for Norwich at the previous General Election, arrived in the city and dined with the King and Const.i.tution Club at the Maid's Head Inn. He was elected a member of the club.

-At a meeting of merchants, manufacturers, and tradesmen, held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament to amend and alter the Acts for the Relief of Insolvent Debtors in England.

15.-Capt. Manby exhibited before the Mayor and Corporation of Yarmouth "a light fire cart, provided with the necessary apparatus ready on the alarm of fire, to be applied by one man."

-Mrs. Faucett, formerly a permanent member of the Norwich Company, and afterwards of Covent Garden Theatre, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Widow Cheerly ("The Soldier's Daughter"). During her engagement she also impersonated Clara ("Matrimony"), Florinda ("The Apostate"), Mrs. Haller ("The Stranger"), Lady Contest ("The Wedding Day"), and Ellen Rosenberg.

16.-The foundation stone of Prince's Street Chapel, Norwich, was laid by the Rev. John Alexander. A bra.s.s plate was placed in the stone with the following inscription:-"This plate was deposited on the 16th day of March, 1819, and in the 59th year of the reign of George III., in the foundation stone of the Protestant Dissenting Chapel, erected on a piece of freehold ground in the city of Norwich, and in the parishes of St.

Michael-at-Plea and St. Peter Hungate, by the congregation attending the ministry of the Rev. John Alexander." The building was opened for service as the Independent Chapel on December 1st, 1819, when sermons were preached by the Rev. Thomas Raffles, A.M., Liverpool, and the Rev.

John Leifchild, of Kensington.

20.*-"We understand that the cooping of freemen preparatory to election of nominees for the Long Ward, Norwich, on the 31st inst., commenced more than a fortnight ago. This practice has. .h.i.therto been treated with much indifference, but as it is likely to be annually resorted to, every sincere friend of the purity of election and of the real interests of the poor men who are thereby taken from their families and from their ordinary occupations, must view it in a very serious light." The election of common councilmen commenced in the week beginning March 28th.

"The consequence of this year's struggle has been to continue the ascendancy of the 'Blue and White' interest in the Common Council. Both parties succeeded in creating a superabundance of noise and confusion and in putting themselves to a vast deal of trouble, vexation, and expense.

In length of purse the 'Blues and Whites' appear to possess a decided advantage over their 'Purple and Orange' opponents, and cooping, bribing, and corrupting were freely and openly practised."

29.-Mr. Richard Mingay, a well-known member of the orchestra at Norwich Theatre, appeared upon the stage as Crack in the farce of "The Turnpike Gate."

APRIL.

1.-A prize fight for a subscription purse of 50, given by the amateurs of Norwich, took place on Rumburgh Green, near Bungay, between Purcell and Warkley, of Norwich, a pupil of Oliver. The former was seconded by Ned Painter and Fuller, and the latter by Oliver and Scroggins.

Forty-five rounds were fought in two hours three minutes, and the battle ended in favour of Purcell.