Part I

. of Mr. David Hodgson's "Antiquarian Remains, Principally Confined to Norwich and Norfolk," was announced on this date.

--*"A plan has been set on foot for the establishment of an Art Union for East Anglia, with the view of giving encouragement to the fine arts in this county and its vicinity. The exhibition is intended to be opened at Norwich at or prior to the Festival week." The society was known as the East of England Art Union, and the first exhibition was opened "at their well-lighted gallery in Exchange Street," on July 27th. The exhibitors included J. Stark, J. B. Crome, S. B. Colkett, M. E. Cotman, A. Stannard, R. Ladbrooke, J. B. Ladbrooke, T. Lound, R. Leman, &c.

APRIL.

4.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Serjeant Atcherley, George Barber, aged ten years, was indicted, upon the Coroner's inquisition, for murdering John Smith, aged eight, by throwing him over Shotford Bridge into the river Waveney, on November 6th, 1841. The only direct evidence to criminate the prisoner was his own confession, which was extracted from him by a witness who had chained him up and frightened him by threats. The Commissioner directed the jury to acquit the prisoner, who was afterwards received into the establishment of the Philanthropic Society, St. George's Fields, London.

5.--A singular case was tried at the Norfolk Assizes, before Lord Chief Justice Tindal. The defendants, John Utting and Anna Bunn, were indicted for conspiring against one Daniel Durrant, of Winterton, a criminal then under sentence of transportation for life. Durrant, at the Summer Assizes in 1841, was charged with committing a rape upon Bunn, on whose evidence and that of John Utting, a constable at Filby, he was convicted and sentenced. Soon afterwards Durrant's wife died of grief, and Bunn, labouring under the pangs of remorse, confessed to the Rev. Mr. Sidney, of Acle, that the statements which procured the conviction of Durrant were false. It was further shown that Utting had planned with Bunn to ruin Durrant. The jury now found that Durrant was not guilty of the charge on which he was convicted, and returned a verdict of guilty against Utting, while Bunn, who had not been called upon to plead, was discharged. Utting was taken before the Court of Queen's Bench, on May 9th, and was there sentenced by Mr. Justice Patteson to twelve calendar months' imprisonment in Norwich Castle. "The issue of the prosecution was that Durrant was restored to liberty and returned home. Only three years ago he would have been executed for this crime. He was formerly an innkeeper, with a good business. Through this unfounded charge he has lost his wife, who died of a broken heart, and he and his three young children are now destitute." Public subscriptions were made on behalf of this unfortunate man.

16.*--"During the Assizes the Norwich Scholars ascended the tower of St. Peter Mancroft and made a grand attempt to ring 6,729 changes of Stedman's Cinques. They attained about 6,000, in four hours and a half, after which the gudgeon of the tenor broke, which, with the stock and implements, weighs 5,000 lbs. and upwards. It fell on the beams beneath with a tremendous crash, but sustained no injury. The ringers were more frightened than hurt."

--*"Messrs. Whaites, of Ingham, have, in two days during the last fortnight, killed 116 couples of snipes; on the first day 54 couples, on the second day 62 couples." Other remarkable feats of snipe shooting were recorded during the year. On October 15th Mr. Robert Fellowes, jun., killed, on Sir William Beauchamp Proctor's marshes at Langley, 60 couple; and on November 17th, at Rockland, Mr. Richard Crawshay killed, at one shot, four snipe on the wing.

--The publication, by subscription, was announced of a new tragedy, entitled, "De Valencourt, or the Fate of Extremes," by Mr. William Henry Hoskins, principal tragedian and deputy stage manager at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, and Mr. H. H. Hoskins, author of "The Spaniards' Ransom," &c. The publishers were C. Mitchell, Red Lion Court, Fleet Street, London; Matchett and Co. and Bacon and Co., Norwich. The play was produced at Norwich Theatre for the first time on May 14th. "In the piece there is an imitation of Shakesperian language and dialogue; there are many striking, and some touching passages, but allied with much that is very strained and exaggerated."

23.--Mr. Abington, "a graduated member of Trinity College, Cambridge, and also of the English Bar," who had adopted the stage as a profession, made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre, as Hamlet.

MAY.

1.--A serious fire occurred at Hillington Hall, the seat of Sir William ffolkes, Bart. The fire was confined to the servants' apartments, which were totally destroyed, and the main building was saved by the unroofing of the intervening structure.

6.--Samuel Wilkinson, of Mill Street, Peafield, appeared before the Norwich magistrates and stated that he wished to sell his wife. The magistrates referred him to the Ecclesiastical Court, but he said he would effect the sale and take the risk. On the 7th, at or near the Prussia Gardens, he sold his wife for a guinea, and received a sovereign on account. On the 10th Wilkinson was bound over to keep the peace for assaulting his wife. In the course of the hearing the following written agreement was produced:--

"This is to satfy that I Samyoul Wilkerson sold my wife to Mr. Gorge Springle for the sum of one pound one before witness.

Samyoul X Wilkerson Maryann Wilkerson X her mark Gorge Springle X his mark Frederick Cornish, witness."

7.--Died, Mr. George Cooke Tucker, landlord of the New Inn, Cromer. "The present flourishing establishment was built and raised by him. Possessed of a peculiar courteousness of manner, and endowed with great kindness of disposition, he was alike esteemed by the resident gentry and the general inhabitants of the place and neighbourhood. He had reached the patriarchal age of ninety years."

11.--Died, aged 62, Mr. William Norman, Windsor Place, New Lakenham, "many years hair dresser to his late Majesty George III."

18.--At Norwich Theatre was produced, for the first time, a new melodrama, in three acts, entitled, "The Student of Jena," by Mr. Wm. Cooper, B.A., barrister, of Norwich. "The play is founded on the romance of the 'Diamond Watch,' a piece of _diablerie_, emanating from the German school."

26.--Thurlow, the pedestrian, commenced a walk of 2,000 miles in one thousand hours, at Richmond Hill Gardens, Norwich. (No further record.) Robert Skipper, "the celebrated pedestrian, of Norfolk and Norwich, having been absent on the Continent and in different counties, where he has won several matches, and is now in his 55th year," began a walk on June 21st, of 50 miles per day for twenty successive days, at the Green Hill Gardens, St. Augustine's Gates, Norwich. He completed the task on Sunday, July 10th, "and did not appear to be in the least distressed."

28.--Mr. and Mrs. Wood commenced, at Norwich Theatre, a five nights' engagement, prior to their final retirement from the stage. The operas produced included "Fra Diavolo," "Midas," "La Somnambula," and "Norma."

--The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry assembled at Swaffham for eight days' permanent duty, under the command of Major Loftus.

30.--Cricket was revived in Norwich by a match played on this date, between the Norwich Club and the officers and privates of the 13th Light Dragoons. "Considerable fluctuation has for the last few years in Norwich marked the practice of this celebrated manly game, and about two years since nothing appeared more probable than its extinction."

JUNE.

1.--Another instance of the holding in church of a public meeting for secular purposes occurred on this date. The inhabitants of Stoke Holy Cross assembled at the parish church to discuss the propriety of establishing a benefit society. Mr. T. Brightwell presided over the meeting.

14.--Died, aged 65, at Long Island, United States, Mr. John Hunt, engraver, formerly of Norwich. He was the author of a work on British ornithology.

19.--A severe thunderstorm occurred at Norwich. "The wind blew a perfect hurricane. Rushing in a straight line for Catton, it caught the high wall in St. Clement's Square, and blew down about 30 yards of solid brickwork." The sails of Catton mill were blown off, trees were torn up by the roots, and the river suddenly rose above the banks in places. At Harleston a marsh mill was overturned and houses were unroofed.

21.--Died at the Euston Hotel, London, Mr. Fred. Yates, aged 45, manager of the Adelphi Theatre. He married, in 1823, Miss F. Brunton, granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, of Norwich.

30.--Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, aged 88, Thomas William Coke, Earl of Leicester. His lordship was born on May 6th, 1753, and was returned for Norfolk in 1776. With one brief intermission, he continued to represent the county until 1832. He was created Earl of Leicester in 1837. He married, in his twenty-third year, his cousin Jane, youngest daughter of Mr. James Dutton, who died June 2nd, 1800, leaving no male issue. After remaining twenty-two years a widower, he married, February 26th, 1822, Lady Anne Amelia Keppel, third daughter of the Earl of Albemarle, her ladyship being then 19 and Mr. Coke 70 years of age. The issue of the marriage were Thomas William, born in 1822; Edward Keppel, 1824; Henry Coke, 1827; Wenman Clarence Walpole, 1828; and Margaret Sophia, who, at the Earl's death was only ten years of age. The remains of the deceased nobleman arrived at Swaffham on July 10th, and were placed in the large room at the Crown Inn. From four o'clock in the afternoon until nine in the evening the body lay in state, and immense numbers of persons passed through the apartment. At nine o'clock on the morning of the 11th, muffled peals were rung, and at eleven o'clock the funeral procession started for Tittleshall. It passed through Castle-acre, the Lexhams, and Litcham. "At every spot where the main road crossed the cross roads were carriages in waiting to fall into the procession, which, marching in close order, was two miles in length." At Tittleshall church, where the interment took place, there was a great gathering of the personal friends and tenantry of the deceased earl.

JULY.

2.--Died at Hexham, Northumberland, aged 86, Mr. William Cooke, formerly of North Creake. "About 60 years ago, under the auspices of Mr. T. W. Coke, and upon the estate of Earl Spencer, he introduced into Norfolk the drill system for corn. He subsequently introduced into the same county the Northumberland turnip husbandry, and, in conjunction with Sir Mordaunt Martin and Dr. Letsome, established the cultivation of mangold wurzle in England. During his latter years he devoted much time and his high mathematical attainments to perfecting the plough."

4.--The first meeting for enforcing the Income-Tax was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, when Commissioners were appointed for the several Hundreds named in the Act of Parliament. Similar meetings took place at Yarmouth and Lynn.

6.--Races were held at East Dereham. The other meetings this season were at Norwich on July 12th and 13th, Downham July 22nd, and Yarmouth September 6th and 7th.

9.--The funeral of Lord Townshend, who died at Hutton Lodge, Yorkshire, on June 28th, aged 56 years, took place at Bintry church.

14.--Major Boxall, of Swaffham, was killed at the brewery of Mr. Morse, in that town, by the fall of a portion of the roof.

16.--At a meeting of the yeomanry and tenantry of both political parties, held at the Swan Inn, Norwich, it was decided to erect, by public subscription, a monument to the memory of the late Earl of Leicester. (_See_ January 7th, 1843.)

23.--A correspondent, writing under this date to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, complained of the danger and annoyance caused on the public roads by vehicles drawn by dogs. "If," he wrote, "Parliament deemed it necessary two years ago to pass an Act prohibiting, under a severe penalty, the use of dogs as beasts of draught or burden in London and its neighbourhood for twenty miles around, surely the same necessity, as well on the score of humanity as of personal security to the public, does exist in reference to every other portion of the kingdom."

24.--Died, aged 60, at Hunter Street, Brunswick Square, London, John Sell Cotman.

AUGUST.

1.--An acrobat, named Alleni, was descending a rope "in his chariot of fire," at the Greyhound Gardens, Ber Street, Norwich, when his apparatus failed, the rope broke, and the unfortunate performer, falling a distance of thirty feet, was seriously injured.

6.--A correspondent complained that the "unrivalled tower" of Norwich Cathedral, then undergoing restoration, was "under the care of a plasterer, to be patched and pieced in his best manner with a compound of villainous ingredients scarcely tolerable on a shop front." Mr. John Brown, the Cathedral architect, replied, on August 10th, to the effect that the substance used was not plaster, but "hydraulic cement, calcined limestone and sand, which is more durable than stone." Much newspaper controversy ensued.

20.*--"Last week a block of granite of nearly two tons weight was fixed on the south battlement of Norwich Castle, containing the following inscription:--"This Royal Castle, built by William Rufus, as Knychton testifies in his Chronicle, on the site of one much more ancient, has been used as a county gaol since the year 1345, and was finally vested in the magistrates of Norfolk for that purpose by Royal grant confirmed by Parliament in 1806. The ornamental work and facing of the exterior having fallen into a state of extreme decay, the same was ordered to be restored at the expense of the county by the Court of Quarter Sessions, in April, 1834. Its restoration was carried into effect with the most careful adherence to the details of the antient work in Bath stone, as most resembling that of Normandy, which had been originally used, under the superintendence of the visiting justices, and completed in 1839. The battlements and corbel table were designed from the best discoverable authorities, as no portion remained of the original termination of the building. Anthony Salvin, Esq., of London, architect; Mr. James Watson, of Norwich, stonemason." [The NORFOLK CHRONICLE expressed regret "at the necessity, if any such existed, for the adoption of a process which has for ever hidden from human eyes the whole exterior of this celebrated Anglo-Norman keep."]

27.--A finner whale, discovered stranded upon a shoal in Lynn Roads, was secured by a boat's crew who fastened a rope to its tail. When the tide rose the whale dragged the boat with great velocity towards the town. After a struggle of seven hours, it was landed. It measured 50 ft. in length.

--*"Her Majesty has been pleased to grant unto William Hardy Cozens, Esq., of Letheringsett, her Royal licence to take and use the surname and arms of Hardy, in addition to his present name, in compliance with a condition contained in the will of his late uncle, William Hardy, Esq., of Letheringsett Hall."

30.--A great rowing match took place on the Yare, at Norwich, in the presence of thousands of spectators. The match, which was open to all England, was for a subscription cup or purse of 50 pounds, and was to be rowed in four-oared 36ft. boats, by amateurs. Competing crews were entered by the Leander Club, London; King's College Club, London; the Cambridge Amateur Club, and the Norwich Amateur Club. The odds throughout were greatly in favour of the Londoners, and many heavy bets were made on Cambridge. The course, about three miles, was from stakes on Bramerton Common to a spot nearly opposite Thorpe Gardens. "The boats started two and two; the first two boats were started 100 yards apart at the same time; the winning boat of each pair had therefore to row another heat. By the casting of lots, the Leander was pitted against King's College, and Norwich against Cambridge. The Leander had the lead of King's College, and Cambridge the lead of Norwich." King's College and Norwich won the first heat--the former in 22 minutes 30 seconds, and the latter in 21 minutes 30 seconds. In the final heat Norwich beat King's College easily. The winning crew were composed as follow:--J. Kidd, 9 st. 10 lb.; J. Wigham, 10 st. 9 lb.; W. Clabburn, 11 st. 7 lb.; T. Clabburn (stroke), 9 st. 2 lb.; F. Bolingbroke (cox.), 8 st. 11 lb. Trained by Noulton.

--The Royal squadron accompanying the Queen on her voyage to Scotland passed Yarmouth at five am. On the return of her Majesty, on the evening of September 16th, several yawls put out to sea, and the occupants were gratified with a sight of the Queen and Prince Albert on the main deck of the Trident steamer. Loud cheers were given for the Sovereign and her Consort.

SEPTEMBER.

10.--The publication of