Volume I Part 34 (1/2)
4.-King George III. attained his 78th year on this day (Sunday). The Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, the Brunswick Hussars fired a _feu de joie_ in the barrack square, and the Light Horse Volunteers, commanded by Major J. Harvey, marched into the Market Place, and after thrice discharging their pistols gave three cheers for the King. ”The children belonging to the Sunday School of the Independent Chapel at Lynn, about 800 in number, were regaled with cake and wine.”
On the 5th a society at Norwich, known as ”The Loyal Heroes,” celebrated the Royal birthday by dining at the Pigeons, Charing Cross.
6.-Married at St. Peter Mancroft church, Norwich, Lieut.-Col. Robert John Harvey to Charlotte Mary, only daughter of Mr. Robert Harvey, of Watton.
After the service ”the wedding party returned to their carriages, a wedding peal was rung, and the Norwich Light Horse, forming a guard of honour, acted as escort to the bride and bridegroom, and fired a _feu de joie_ in front of their house.”
12.-A grand camping match took place at Ranworth. ”They played 24 a side, but neither party goaled the ball, and it was decided by a bye.”
Between 2,000 and 3,000 persons were present.
-A wrestling match for a subscription purse of 5 took place at the Bird-in-Hand, Kirby. The prize was won by a Reedham man. ”A grand milling afterwards took place between Chapman and Ellis, the Newmarket Lad. It was strength and ferocity against science and steady courage, and was won by the latter, who blinded his opponant in 25 minutes.”
17.-The Brunswick Hussars, commanded by Col. von Tempsky, left Norwich on their route to Harwich to embark for the Continent.
23.-News was received at Norwich of the battle of Waterloo, fought on June 18th. Cannon were fired, and bells rung in celebration of the victory. The rejoicings were renewed on the 27th, when the Expedition and other coaches brought intelligence of the second abdication of Buonaparte. The Expedition coach, decorated with laurel and flags, was dragged through the streets to the singing of ”G.o.d save the King” and ”Rule Britannia,” and a bonfire, fed with the stalls from the fish-market, and with other stolen material, was lighted at night.
24.*-”That long and justly complained-of nuisance, St. Stephen's pit, is about to be removed. The Corporation of Norwich have ordered a lease of it to be granted to Mr. Edward Bacon, builder, and four houses are to be erected on its scite agreeable to a plan delivered by him for that purpose.”
JULY.
3.-Holkham Sheep Shearing commenced. Among the implements exhibited was a machine for spreading hay. ”It was drawn by one horse, and by means of strong iron rakes affixed to an axle or centre completely spread a number of swathes (three or four according to the length of the rakes) as fast as the horse could walk.”
6.-A ”long and scientific battle” took place between Chapman and Ellis on a meadow on the Suffolk side of the Waveney, near St. Olaves Bridge.
”From the first to the 17th round the superior size and strength of Chapman carried him through, and betting was two and three to one in his favour; but, in the 18th, Ellis went in and gave his opponent three desperate facers, which brought the betting even till the 31st round, when Chapman beginning to show evident marks of severe punishment, had his right eye closed; betting, two to one on Ellis. In the 54th round the left eye was closed, and his head became truly terrific, and had from its swollen state a giant-like appearance.” Ellis was the winner after a contest of one hour, 12 minutes, for a subscription purse of 7!
8.-Died at Swaffham, aged 88, Thomas Chesney, gardener. ”What is very remarkable he never was more than four miles from Swaffham.”
-The following names were published as those of local officers present at the battle of Waterloo:-Lieut.-Col. Charles West, 3rd Regiment of Guards; Lieut. the Hon. Horace G. Townshend, 1st Regiment of Guards; Lieut.
Sigismund Trafford, 1st Royal Dragoons, eldest son of Mr. S. Trafford Southwell; Ensign Alfred Cooper, 14th Regiment, youngest son of Mr. C.
Cooper, Norwich; Col. Sir Edward Kerrison, 7th Dragoons (? Hussars); Lieut.-Col. Archibald Money, 11th Light Dragoons; and Major Sir George Hoste, Royal Engineers.
11.-At Norwich Quarter Sessions, John Watson was indicted for conspiring with two other persons unknown to fraudulently obtain a bank note for 10 from Thomas Starling. The prisoner and two persons, apparently strangers, were boasting at a public-house how much money they possessed, when the accused taking prosecutor aside told him that if he could lend him a 10 note it would enable him to win a wager. The prosecutor went out, borrowed the money, and placed it in the hands of the prisoner, who with the other conspirators went away, taking the money with them. The prisoner was sentenced to seven years' transportation.
13.-Arrived at Yarmouth two transports from Ostend with 300 sick and wounded soldiers of the Duke of Wellington's army. They were removed in keels from the s.h.i.+ps to the hospital on the Denes.
15.*-”The Postmasters-General have established a penny post six days a week to Stalham, with open letter boxes for the receiving of letters at that place, Neatishead, and Hoveton, near Wroxham Bridge.”
28.-The High Sheriff, in compliance with a requisition signed by the county justices in Quarter Sessions, convened a meeting at the s.h.i.+rehall, Norwich, when, on the motion of Mr. Robert Fellowes, seconded by the Hon.
Col. Wodehouse, a subscription was opened for the relief of the wounded survivors, and the widows and children of the soldiers who fell at Waterloo. This subscription amounted to 7,000. Collections were also made in the city and county churches.
29.-A balloon ascent was made from the Ranelagh Gardens, Norwich, by Mr.
Sadler. ”All night long hundreds continued to flock into town, and at daybreak the roads were literally thronged with people. Some hours before noon the princ.i.p.al avenues to the Market Place were blocked up with vehicles for which accommodation could not be found in the inn yards, and horses were picketed in the streets. Lodging and accommodation at the inns were very difficult to obtain, and in many instances a guinea was given for a bed.” Miss Bathurst, daughter of the Bishop of Norwich, presented the aeronaut with a banner previous to the ascent. The balloon rose at 3.35 and descended at 4.30 p.m., in a field near Sprowston Hall. ”Among the company present in the Ranelagh Gardens was General Money, who 30 years previously, namely on Sat.u.r.day, July 23rd, 1785, made a similar ascent, and was blown out to sea, where he was rescued by the Argus Revenue cutter.”
31.-A baker was fined before the Mayor of Norwich for ”exposing bread to sell on the Lord's day before the hour of ten o'clock in the morning.”
Shortly afterwards 15 persons were summoned for like offences, and the Master and Wardens of the Bakers' Company applied that the fines might be strictly enforced.
AUGUST.