Volume Ii Part 45 (1/2)
9.-Mr. and Mrs. Rousby commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre, in ”Twixt Axe and Crown.” On subsequent evenings, ”The School for Scandal,”
”Romeo and Juliet,” and ”Joan of Arc,” were produced.
19.-The annual show of the Norfolk Agricultural a.s.sociation commenced at Thetford. Mr. Angerstein presided at the members' luncheon.
30.-The Earl of Leicester was invested by the Queen with the Riband and Badge of the Garter. His lords.h.i.+p previously received the honour of knighthood.
JULY.
10.-Mr. J. L. Toole commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre, during which he appeared in a round of his favourite characters.
19.-The 3rd Norfolk Rifle Volunteers went into camp at Heacham Park, and on the 23rd were inspected by Colonel Knox, C.B., commanding the 31st Depot.
21.-A company, under the management of Captain Disney Roebuck (late Royal Welsh Fusiliers), commenced an engagement at Norwich Theatre. The repertory included ”David Garrick,” ”Society,” ”The School for Scandal,”
”East Lynne,” and the bouffe burlesque, ”The Rows of Castille.”
21.-Mr. David Fisher gave a dramatic reading at North Walsham. ”Since the closing of the theatrical circuit under the management of the Fisher family, no member had visited it until Mr. David Fisher, now of the London theatres, and known to us first as a boy actor with his father and grandfather, came to read 'The School for Scandal.' Mr. David Fisher in London has carried out the promise of his early life, and in coming upon scenes of his boyhood finds those who tell him tales of former years, and pleasure no doubt arises on the other side from the opening up of old a.s.sociations. We have spoken of Mr. Fisher's reading-he does not read, he acts two-thirds of the whole play from memory; every character is given with perfect clearness. He visits all the towns where formerly theatres stood under the management of his family.” On this tour Mr.
Fisher was accompanied by his daughter, Miss Mary Fisher, who displayed her musical abilities.
30.-The valuable collection presented to the Norfolk and Norwich Museum by Mrs. E. P. Clarke, of Wymondham, was opened to the public. This collection was formed by Mr. Edward Lombe, of Great Melton, and set up by the first taxidermist of his day, the elder Leadbeater, of London.
Regret was expressed at the absence of any memoranda of dates and localities. The British birds alone numbered 551 specimens, representing 280 distinct species.
-The headquarters and six troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards marched into Norwich, under the command of Colonel Conyers Tower, C.B.
-A new iron bridge over the River Ouze, constructed in place of the wooden structure known as the Free Bridge, near Lynn, was formally opened by Mr. E. Fellowes, M.P., chairman of the Ouze Outfall Commissioners. It was designed by Messrs. Brunlees and McKerrow.
AUGUST.
14.-An extensive fire occurred at the engineering works of Messrs. Holmes and Sons, Cattle Market, Norwich. The damage was estimated at 10,000.
Effective a.s.sistance was rendered to the fire brigade by three troops of the 3rd Dragoon Guards, and by members of the Norwich Rifle Volunteers.
18.-Mr. Charles Wyndham's company appeared at Norwich Theatre in the political and satirical burlesque, ”The Happy Land.” The piece was interdicted by the Lord Chamberlain on its production at the Court Theatre, London, on account of its caricature of three Liberal Ministers-Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Ayrton. It was played at Norwich, it was announced, with the excised portions restored.
26.-At Norwich Brewster Sessions, the licensed victuallers of the city applied for an alteration of the hours of closing, namely, an extension of the time from 11 to 12 on week-days, and from 10 to 11 o'clock on Sunday. A memorial in favour of the alteration, signed by 7,000 persons, was presented. The Dean of Norwich handed in a memorial containing 7,925 signatures against the alteration. The magistrates declined to alter the hours of closing.
2.-The marriage took place at Holkham of Lady Winifred c.o.ke, fifth daughter of the Earl of Leicester, and Mr. Robert Clements, only son of the Hon. and Rev. Francis Nathaniel Clements, vicar of Norton, Durham, and heir to the Earldom of Leitrim.
11.-The ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new Congregational chapel, built on the site of Cowper's house, at East Dereham, was performed by Mr. Henry Wright, of Kensington. The building, which was erected by Mr. Hubbard, of Dereham, from designs by Mr. Edward Boardman, architect, Norwich, at the cost of 3,500, was intended for the accommodation of 500 wors.h.i.+ppers. It was opened for public wors.h.i.+p on September 24th, 1874.
12.-Mr. Charles Durand's English Opera Company appeared at Norwich Theatre, and on the 19th produced, for the first time in the city, Meyerbeer's opera, ”L'Africaine.”
19.-Died at Caldecot, near Botley, Hamps.h.i.+re, Dr. Dalrymple, M.P. He was born in 1814, and was the fourth son of Mr. William Dalrymple, an eminent surgeon, of Norwich. He married a daughter of Mr. T. O. Springfield, on whose death he was placed in possession of an ample fortune. Dr.
Dalrymple then relinquished his practice in favour of his partner, Mr.