Norfolk Annals Volume I Part 6

1.-The first parade of the Norwich Regiment of Volunteer Infantry took place. Eight battalion companies, a light infantry company, and a grenadier company were formed, and "from five barrels of British brown stout they drank the King's health and prosperity to their country and city, and success to the corps."

7.-The bra.s.s ordnance belonging to the city were tested by some of the regular artillery stationed in Norwich. Four of the guns burst, and appended to the account delivered to the Corporation was the intimation:-"It is customary for the corporal to have the old metal when any of the pieces burst." The official reply was to the effect that the Corporation were of opinion that the corporal "did not want bra.s.s." The iron nine-pounders stood the test. The bra.s.s gun used by Kett in 1549 was preserved as a relic.

22.-The Norwich Volunteers, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Patteson, entered the Market Place, and after marching round the Hall and saluting the Corporation, had their colours presented to them by the Mayor. The men were afterwards regaled at Neeche's Gardens, and the officers dined at the King's Head.

24*-"Telegraphs, signal flags, or tar barrels are being stationed on all the churches and lofty edifices on the coast, in order to give in a chain of communication the earliest intelligence, either by night or day, of the event of the enemy's landing."

29.-A trial was made on the Castle ditches, Norwich, of carriages constructed for the conveyance of troops. A wooden frame, serving as a seat, was affixed to the skeleton of a four-wheel cart. A board for the feet was attached to it by ropes. The vehicle was capable of conveying 17 men.

OCTOBER.

6.-At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions various resolutions were adopted and transmitted to the Government regarding the defence of the county. The princ.i.p.al resolution was as follows:-"An object of most essential concern, which this meeting think it inc.u.mbent upon them to point out, is the town and port of Yarmouth, the infinite importance of which as the princ.i.p.al and almost only naval station in the North Sea, and the circ.u.mstances of which they do not wish to detail, but which, they conceive, require the immediate attention of the Government, in order that they may be rendered as secure against attack likely to be made upon it by land as by the presence of a fleet, it is, they presume, against any attempt by sea."

15.-At a parade of the Norwich Volunteers this day (Sunday) a letter was read from the Lord Lieutenant, asking if they would undertake to perform permanent duty at Yarmouth. A unanimous reply was given in the affirmative, and "the officers and gentlemen of the Light Horse Volunteers laid their hands on their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, as an appeal to their honour to undertake the duty whenever they should be required." Shortly afterwards the commanding officers received instructions to have their corps in a perfect state of military equipment, and be prepared to march at a moment's notice.

18.-The Artillery, Shrops.h.i.+re Militia, and the Volunteer Corps (horse and foot) took part in a sham fight on Bramerton Common. General Milner, the inspecting officer, commended all arms for their steadiness on parade.

19.-A general fast was observed. The Bishop of Norwich preached at the Cathedral, and the military attended service in the evening.

22.-Died, at Norwich, Mr. Elias Norgate, aged 76. He served the office of Sheriff in 1781, and of Mayor in 1785, and was a surgeon of great local eminence.

26.-The Lord Lieutenant transmitted to the justices of the peace his Majesty's proclamation for establis.h.i.+ng certain regulations under the Act, respecting aliens arriving in the kingdom or resident therein.

The monument to the memory of the Poet Cowper and of his friend, Mrs.

Unwin, in the church of St. Nicholas, East Dereham, was erected this month.

NOVEMBER.

5.-Bonfires were prohibited in city and county, "as they might cause a false alarm."

8.-The battalion of Norwich Volunteers, commanded by Lieut.-Col.

Patteson, paraded in the Market Place at seven a.m., and, amid the ringing of St. Peter Mancroft bells, started on their march to Yarmouth for the performance of garrison duty. The battalion halted at Acle, and, on resuming their march, reached Yarmouth at four o'clock. The rank and file numbered 280, out of an establishment of 312, and two officers only were absent. On the same day two troops of the Norfolk Rangers, headed by the Marquis Townshend and commanded by Capt. Sir M. B. ffolkes, Bart., and Capt. Beauchamp, entered Norwich on their way to Yarmouth. There were seven officers, two quartermasters, seven sergeants, two trumpeters, and 94 privates. The officers dined in the evening with Sir Roger Kerrison, and on the following morning the squadron resumed its march.

9.-The Fakenham Volunteers, Capt. P. M. Case, marched into Norwich from Aylsham. There were four officers, seven sergeants, four drummers, and 80 privates. This was the first Volunteer corps in Norfolk to volunteer for garrison duty at Yarmouth.

16.-The Norfolk Rangers arrived at Norwich on the termination of their duty at Yarmouth, and on the next day proceeded to their homes.

22.-The Norwich Regiment of Volunteer Infantry, under Lieut.-Col. Harvey, paraded on Tombland and marched to Yarmouth for garrison duly. On the same day Col. Patteson's battalion marched in. They were preceded by the Fakenham corps, whose headquarters were at the White Swan.

30.-The troops stationed at Yarmouth were reviewed upon the Denes by General Milner.

-At the annual meeting of the Society of Universal Good Will, Norwich (formerly the Scots Society), it was reported that since its establishment in 1775 it had relieved 1,813 persons.

-The Lord Lieutenant received a circular letter from the Government, relative to the appointment of such householders to act as special constables who were not enrolled in any Volunteer corps.

-Mr. Thomas Wm. c.o.ke was gazetted captain of the Holkham Yeomanry Cavalry.

-Alderman John Herring, of Norwich, received from the Duke of York a letter, in which his Royal Highness expressed approbation of the readiness with which the Norwich Volunteers had undertaken to do garrison duty at Yarmouth.

DECEMBER.

1.-Died, in Norwich, aged 43, Mr. James Burkin Burroughes, captain of the Blofield and South Walsham troop of Yeomanry Cavalry. His remains were interred, with military honours, at Burlingham on December 6th.

-The squadron of Norwich Light Horse, Major John Harvey, marched to Yarmouth, to relieve the Tunstead and Happing troop.

6.-Col. Harvey's battalion returned to Norwich from Yarmouth. In the Regimental Orders, Col. Harvey referred to the steady and orderly march on the road, to the loyal discharge of duty at Yarmouth, and to the kindness with which the people of that town treated the men while in quarters.

15.-The Lynn and Freebridge Yeomanry Cavalry, with the artillery and rifle corps, commanded by Major Taylor, marched through Norwich for Yarmouth, to relieve the South Erpingham troop in garrison duty.

20.-The North Walsham Volunteers marched from that town at four o'clock in the morning, and arrived at Yarmouth at one o'clock, "without leaving a single man behind, although the roads were extremely bad, and the distance 26 miles."

22.-The Dereham and Swaffham troops of Yeomanry Cavalry (Capts. Crisp and Johnson) marched through Norwich to Yarmouth, to relieve the Lynn and Freebridge troops. The Diss (Capt. Woodward), Wells (Capt. Bloom), and Old Buckenham (Capt. Powell) companies of infantry marched into Yarmouth for a fortnight's garrison duty.

25.-This day (Sunday) the Norwich Rifle Corps paraded at St. Andrew's Hall, took the oath of allegiance, and attended service at the church of St. Peter Mancroft. (The uniform and appointments of this corps consisted of a dark green jacket, with lace of the same colour, pantaloons, and short black gaiters; hussar cap, with green feather and tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs; a rifle-carbine, sword bayonet attached to the side by a black waist belt, and a ball pouch and powder horn slung from the left shoulder.)

-At a church parade of the Lynn Sea Fencibles, Capt. Bentinck, the commanding officer, presented to the corps "a most elegant banner,"

worked by Viscountess Andover, daughter of Mr. c.o.ke, M.P.

30.-The Hingham troop (Capt. Alpe) and the Wymondham troop (Capt. the Hon. Wm. Wodehouse) marched to Yarmouth, to relieve the Dereham and Swaffham troops.

31.-The Dereham troop, which left Yarmouth on the 30th, arrived at Dereham, and was welcomed by a great concourse of the inhabitants. The church bells were rung, and the officers and many members of the troop dined in the evening at the King's Arms Inn.

The twenty-two troops of Yeomanry Cavalry in the county were this month formed into three regiments. The Marquis Townshend was appointed colonel of the Western Regiment; Major-General Money, colonel of the Eastern Regiment; and Col. (afterwards Brigadier-General) Bulwer, colonel of the Midland (or Mid Norfolk) Regiment.

31.-Polito's wild beasts were exhibited in the yard at the Duke's Palace, Norwich.

1804.

JANUARY.

3.-The Old Buckenham Volunteers marched into Norwich from Yarmouth, and next day proceeded to their homes. The corps numbered 5 officers and 125 non-commissioned officers and privates.

-Capt. d.i.c.kens, of the Shrops.h.i.+re Militia, "undertook for a considerable wager to walk from the Angel at Yarmouth to the Angel at Norwich and back again (47 miles) in twelve hours, which he performed with apparent ease in eleven hours and a half."

7.-Died, at Colchester, aged 65, Sir William Gordon, Bart., captain in the West Norfolk Militia, and for many years a resident in Norwich.

12.-A meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, as to the depressed state of the corn trade. It was resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament on the subject. (The prices quoted at this date were:-Wheat, 14s. to 26s.; barley, 9s. 6d. to 10s.; oats, 9s. 6d. to 10s. 6d. per coomb.)