“Monday last being the day appointed for our annual water frolic, an
immense quantity of boats (from the splendid pleasure barge to the
humble punt) started from our Bridge at eleven o’clock a.m. with a
favourable and somewhat stiff breeze from the N.E. At two o’clock
the various crafts laid-to in the Narrows to witness the sailing
match. The competitors were the Venus (cutter-rigged boat), Last;
Algerine (latteener), Craske; Emerald, (latteener) Col. Jones; and
the Hornet, Everett. The prize (an elegant silver cup) was won by
the Venus. At starting the Hornet had the lead for a short distance,
when she was passed by the Venus, and on rounding the upper cross
stake the latter boat and the Emerald were close together, and
remained so, till they got within the Narrows, when the Colonel
succeeded in passing her, winning the first by about half a minute.
In two minutes after the Venus recovered her lost ground and passed
her opponent, and succeeded in rounding the stake one minute before
the Emerald, who, however, neared so fast that had not the Venus
rounded the flag very closely she must have lost the match, the
Colonel being to windward. The oldest boater never remembers so
closely contested a run. After sailing, the various crafts (which
absolutely studded the river) got under weigh, and proceeded towards
the ancient Garianonum, opposite to which they dined. At seven
o’clock p.m. the boats started for home, where they arrived in about
an hour, all safe, nothing having occurred to damp the pleasures of
the day, which was an extremely fine one. At Burgh, Chase, the
spirited proprietor of the Neptune Gardens, was completely at home,
while on the adjacent hills, opposite the cage, various groups of
happy faces were to be seen enjoying tea, &c. This, together with
the immense crowd of company that congregated on the road, presented
a scene that must have been witnessed to have been fully appreciated.
Among the company were our worthy Mayor and a large party of
fashionables in the handsome barge belonging to W. Fisher, Esq., S.
T. Berney, and J. Penrice, Esqs., in the former’s fast-sailing boat
Meteor, Mr. Alderman Barth in the admiral’s (Green’s) boat, &c., &c.
This, together with the countless multitudes that crowded the decks
of the tug, Royal Sovereign and Emperor steamers, made the river
appear a sort of floating fair. On the next day a number of boats,
barges, &c., sailed to the Berney Arms to witness a rowing match (for
a silver cup, given by Mr. Barnett, the landlord of the house) by
four-oared gigs, which was won by the Wasp, a Norwich boat, belonging
to William Gallant, jun. Nearer home we observed an unusually large
number of stalls, &c., at our bridge foot. On the whole, there
seemed nothing wanting to make this annual festival worthy of
brighter days, but the presence of the Corporation barge, without
which (although no brawlers against innovation) we cannot but think
the Regatta is shorn of much of its glory.”
July 18th.—A fight had taken place on the Factory Denes, for one
Sovereign, between Thomas Purdy, of Caister, commonly known as “The
Caister Champion,” and George Elliott, of Ingham. At the 133rd round
(the battle lasted 1 h. 50 min.) Elliott was declared the victor.
Two men (Seager and Hanson) had quarrelled in the Bear Tap, when
Nathaniel Lacey, in trying to part them, was knocked down and his leg
broken.
August 22nd.—“As early as nine o’clock on Friday morning an immense
concourse of genteely-dressed persons had congregated before St. Peter’s
Church, anxious not to miss the opportunity of witnessing the solemn and
imposing ceremonial about to take place. At ten o’clock the principal
door was thrown open, and this large assemblage entered. The greatest
order and decorum prevailed, owing certainly to the excellent arrangement
of C. Symonds, Esq., one of the Churchwardens for the year, who, to
prevent confusion, had issued tickets, which were left at the houses of
the respectable housekeepers, without the least distinction, as also at
the various lodging houses for the use of the visitors. About eleven
o’clock the Mayor (John Baker, Esq.), with the customary regalia,
attended by several other members of the Corporate body entered the
church, and were shown to the pews appropriated for their reception. The
Bishop of Winchester soon arrived with his Chaplain and Registrar and
proceeded up the middle aisle to the altar, where the service began by
the latter gentleman presenting the petition to the Bishop, who
redelivered it to the Registrar, when it was by him read aloud. The
Right Rev. Prelate then pronounced the following words, in a solemn,
appropriate, and sonorous tone of voice—“I am now ready to give my full
consent to that which you have desired, and may Almighty God bless the
good work in which we are about engaging.” His Lordship then, with his
officers and clergy, walked to the west end of the church and back again
to the altar, repeating alternate versicles of the 42nd Psalm. The
Bishop having seated himself at the table, the Deed of Consecration was
read by the surrogate (the Very Rev. the Dean of Norwich), after which
his Lordship read the exhortation, prayers, &c., appointed for the
occasion. The usual morning prayers were read from the desk by the Hon.
and Rev. E. Pellew, with the exception of those parts especially
appropriated to the occasion, which were read by the Bishop. The reading
Psalms most judiciously selected for the occasion were the 84th, 122nd,
and 132nd; the lessons, parts of the 8th chapter of 1st Kings, and of the
10th chapter of Hebrews. After the prayers, verses 6, 7, and 8 of 26th,
with Gloria Patri, was performed by a very full orchestra of
instrumentalists and vocalists. The common service was performed by the
Bishop, with the exception of the Epistle and the Nicene Creed, which
were read by his Lordship’s Chaplain, the Rev. Alexander Dallas. The
100th Psalm (Tate and Brady’s version) was then sung by the whole choir.
The sermon, a striking, apposite, and eloquent one, was preached by the
Rev. Mr. Clark, the appointed minister of the Church, from Genesis,
chapter 28th, verses 16 and 17—“And Jacob awaketh out of his sleep, &c.”
[832 young persons were confirmed by the Bishop of Winchester.]”
August 29th.—The Races had been held, and on “Tuesday and Wednesday the
great annual main of cocks had been fought at the Bush Tavern, South
Quay, between the gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Yarmouth for
£5 a battle and £50 the odds, which was won by Norwich, who were six
battles a head.”
Sept. 15th.—The smack Endeavour, of London, had been seized with 65 casks
and 16 bales (2,800 lbs. in weight) of tobacco on board her.
The following Corporate officers had been chosen:—John Danby-Palmer,
Esq., Mayor; Mr. James Jay, Chamberlain; F. R. Reynolds, Esq., and J. M.
Bell, Esq., Churchwardens.
The late gales had caused an immense quantity of sand and shingle to be
washed into the Harbour, so as to form a point opposite the South Pier.