Volume I Part 33 (1/2)

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.