6.--The Anacreontic Society, "which for many years has been established
in Norwich, and to which the cause of music owes so much," closed its
winter session. The Hon. Mr. Wodehouse, Sir William Jerningham, Sir
Richard Bedingfeld, and Capt. Sir Edward Berry were present. The Society
gave monthly concerts in the Assembly Room from October to March. In the
advertisement announcing the commencement of the next session, it was
stated that the first concert would "begin precisely at 6; supper-rooms
open at 9, and the President to quit the chair at 12 o'clock."
7.--Arrived in Yarmouth Roads, the St. George, of 98 guns, bearing the
flag of Lord Nelson. The grand fleet of 47 ships of war (with 3,000
marines), sailed on the 12th, under the command of Admiral Sir Hyde
Parker, in the London, of 98 guns, with Nelson as his Vice-Admiral. The
fleet first "rendezvoused" in Leith Roods, where it was joined by seven
sail of the line, and afterwards proceeded to Copenhagen.
10.--A mob assembled at Lynn and grossly assaulted several millers and
farmers by throwing at them stones and dirt. In the evening they broke
the windows in the dining-room of the Duke's Head Inn. "One of the
ringleaders was taken to gaol, and by the active exertions of the Rutland
Militia tranquillity was restored without bloodshed."
11.*--"Mr. Kett, butcher, of Norwich, undertook to ride his horse 50
miles in four hours. He started from St. Stephen's Gates at 12 o'clock,
reached the 25th milestone on the Thetford road in about 2.5 hours, and
returned to the place whence he had set out one and a half minutes before
the time allowed. Six to four was laid that the horse did not perform
the journey."
14.*--[Advt.] "The Yarmouth and Norwich mail coach will set out from the
King's Head, Market Place, Norwich, and the Star Tavern, Quay, Yarmouth,
every day, at 12 o'clock."
16.--The Invincible, of 74 guns (built in 1766), Rear-Admiral Totty, on
her way to join the grand fleet, got on the Ridge, near Happisburgh Sand,
and remained there till daybreak next morning, when she floated off. On
entering deep water she went down immediately, with several officers and
300 men. Daniel Grigson, master of the Nancy cod-smack, saved seven
officers and about 190 of the crew. At a Court Martial held at
Sheerness, on March 31st, on Admiral Totty and the surviving officers and
crew, it was proved that the disaster occurred through the ignorance of
the pilot, and a verdict of honourable acquittal was returned.
19.--At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose,
the action, the King _v._ Augustus Beevor, clerk, was tried. The
information was filed against the defendant by leave of the Court of
King's Bench, for sending a challenge to Major Edward Payne, in
consequence of a dispute that had taken place between the Major and the
defendant's father. Defendant, referring to this dispute, wrote to Major
Payne, demanding an apology, "or he should be under the necessity of
compelling it by a mode generally used among gentlemen." No notice was
taken of the letter, and the defendant meeting Major Payne in the Market
Place at Norwich told him publicly that "the contempt he had for his
character protected his person." The defendant was found guilty, and at
the next term of the Court of King's Bench (May 7) was sentenced to three
weeks' imprisonment in the King's Bench Prison, and ordered to enter into
his own recognisances of 500 pounds, to find two sureties of 250 pounds
each, and to be of good behaviour for three years.
20.*--"The remains of Miss Sophia Goddard, of the Theatre Royal, Norwich,
were interred at St. Peter Mancroft. Mr. Hindes, the manager, and the
principal actors attended on the melancholy occasion. This young lady
had obtained considerable reputation on the Norwich boards, and was
making rapid advance to eminence in her profession when death prematurely
deprived the theatrical world of an actress whose talents would have
ensured her success on any stage. She supported with great fortitude and
resignation a long and painful illness, brought on by exertions that her
constitution was unequal to, and died on Sunday last (March 15), in her
26th year, sincerely beloved and lamented by her family and friends."
Wheat this month rose to 180s. per quarter.