Volume I Part 36 (1/2)

20.-A meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, when resolutions against the continuance of the Property Tax, and a pet.i.tion to the House of Commons, were adopted. On the 9th a county meeting was held at the s.h.i.+rehouse, Norwich, at which a pet.i.tion to both Houses of Parliament for repealing some of the taxes affecting agriculture, was unanimously agreed to. The meeting was held in consequence of a requisition signed by farmers only who confined their objection to the clause in the Property Tax which related to the tenants' duty, and to the Agricultural Horse Tax. On the 23rd a second county meeting was held, when resolutions congratulating the county on the rejection of the Property Tax and the relinquishment of the War Duty on malt were pa.s.sed. A pet.i.tion to Parliament was also unanimously agreed to, recommending a reduction of the military establishment, and the adoption of such a system of economy as might render a further continuance of War Taxes unnecessary.

25.-Died at Ranworth, William Browne, in his 104th year.

26.-Mrs. Bartley, of Drury Lane, appeared as Isabella (”The Fatal Marriage”), at Norwich Theatre.

MARCH.

4.-Mr. Incledon, accompanied by Mr. Collyer and Master Taylor, commenced a four nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre. He appeared as Capt.

Macheath (”Beggars' Opera”), Hawthorne, Tom Tug, and Steady (”The Quaker”).

9.*-”One day this week some men were opening in St. Peter Mancroft Church, Norwich, a vault which had been closed nine years, when they found three bats entirely covered with mould and dust. They were in a state of complete torpidity, but one of them immediately took flight.”

13.-A severe thunderstorm, accompanied by rain and hail, occurred at Yarmouth and other places in the neighbourhood.

18.-Miss L. Kelly, of Drury Lane, appeared at Norwich Theatre as Juliet.

She was joined on the 21st by her sister, Miss F. Kelly.

-At the Norfolk a.s.sizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Baron Wood, Robert Lord, _alias_ Davies, and William Hardy were indicted for having forged notes in their possession. A curious circ.u.mstance led to the detection of the first-named prisoner. A parcel was sent from London by the Fakenham coach addressed to ”Isaac Davies, Tivetshall Ram, Norfolk.” The address was so badly written as to be mistaken for ”Swetshall Ram,” and, as no such place could be found, the proprietor of the coach opened the parcel and discovered the forged notes. Lord was found guilty, and sentenced to 14 years' transportation. Hardy was acquitted.

19.-Died, Nehemiah Haylett, of Kenninghall, aged 101.

21.-Died, at Lynn, Mr. Thomas Day, in his 87th year. He was the oldest burgess in that town, and the last of the officers of the West Norfolk Militia, who, in 1759, volunteered their services to the Government. In 1779, when the Lynn Volunteers were formed, Mr. Day was selected Colonel Commandant.

23.*-”Died lately at Dunham, in his 85th year, Thomas Grounds, and about an hour after, Jane, his wife, in her 83rd year. They were both buried in one coffin.”

29.-At a public meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, it was resolved on the motion of Mr. Robert Fellowes, seconded by the Rev. J. Ives, to establish a Savings Bank. The bank was opened, with offices in St.

Andrew's Hall, on April 29th, and on the first day 86 3s. 6d. was received from depositors in sums of 1s. and upwards.

30.*-(Advt.) ”By desire of Thomas Thurtell, Esq., and William Foster, Esq., Sheriffs of the City of Norwich, at the Theatre Royal, on Sat.u.r.day, April 6th, the Comedy of 'The Road to Ruin,' the Farce called 'The Lyar,'

and the Burlesque Opera 'Bombastes Furioso.'”

31.-Died very suddenly at an advanced age, in the pulpit of Hales Church, the Rev. Valentine Lumley Barnard, rector of Stockton, Norfolk.

APRIL.

3.-A meeting of merchants, manufacturers, &c., was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, when resolutions were pa.s.sed to instruct the members of Parliament for the city to watch and oppose the intended measure for allowing the exportation of wool free of all restrictions. The measure was for the time relinquished.

4.-A public meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which it was unanimously resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament for the repeal of the Insolvent Debtors Act, as being in its operation injurious to trade and commerce.

6.*-”A troop of the 1st Royal Dragoons arrived at Norwich from Ipswich last week. The officers and soldiers were wearing their Waterloo medals.”

-Edward Lea was executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, for uttering forged Bank of England notes.

15.-Sir Simon le Blanc, one of the judges of the Court of King's Bench, and many years leading counsel on the Norfolk Circuit, died in London, in his 68th year.

-Mr. and Mrs. Bartley, of Drury Lane Theatre, commenced playing a round of characters at Norwich Theatre.