5.*--"Mr. Stephen Martin, an old gentleman who lately died at Brentwood,
bequeathed to the minister and churchwardens of St. Giles', Norwich, the
sum of 1,000 pounds Stock in the three per cent. Consols, to be laid out
for the use and benefit of the poor of that parish, of which he was a
native. He was born in 1717, and when an infant was taken to Jamaica,
where he amassed a fortune."
7.--At an assembly of the Corporation of Norwich an address of
congratulation was ordered to be presented to his Majesty "on the
providential discovery of the late traitorous conspiracy against his
Royal person and Government, entered into by Col. Despard and six other
persons, who were executed on the top of the new Surrey prison, in
Horsemonger Lane, on February 21st." The address was presented to the
King by the Mayor (Sir Roger Kerrison), accompanied by Mr. Robert
Fellowes, M.P., and Alderman John Harvey. Similar addresses were voted
by the Corporations of Yarmouth, Thetford, and Lynn; and by the High
Sheriff and Grand Jury of Norfolk at the Assizes at Thetford. The latter
address was presented by Sir J. H. Astley, M.P., and Mr. T. W. Coke,
M.P., on March 30th.
11.--Died, aged 73, Mr. Thomas Twiddy, "who had been many years trumpet
herald to the Norwich Company of Comedians."
14.--Died, Mrs. Parfrey, aged 80, wife of Mr. R. Parfrey, of Holme Hale,
near Swaffham. "The public will best recollect her, as a doctress, by
her former name of Fyson, and for the many cures she made in dropsy and
other complaints."
15.--At a meeting held at St. Andrew's Hall the late members of the
Norwich Loyal Military Association, in consequence of the aspect of
public affairs, offered their services to the Government.
19.*--"Two pairs of eagles were lately shot near Yarmouth. One pair
measured and weighed as follows:--Female, length, 3 feet 4 inches; extent
of wings, 8 feet; weight, 9.75 lbs. Male, length, 2 feet 9 inches;
extent of wings, 7 feet 1 inch; weight, 9.25 lbs. Seventeen wild swans
have also been shot by one man in the week."
21.--The Militia Regiments in the county this day assembled at Yarmouth,
East Dereham, and Swaffham.
22.--At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose
and a special jury, the case, Astley _v._ Harwood, was tried. This was
an action for defamation. It was alleged that the defendant, at a ball
held on July 6th, 1802, the day after the Norwich election, mounted a
table, and, addressing the company, called the plaintiff a liar, a
coward, an assassin, a scoundrel, and a murderer, "for he had murdered
his father." The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, and assessed
the damages at 2,000 pounds. On June 11th the Court of King's Bench
granted a new trial, on the ground that the impression the words made on
the hearers was matter for aggravation or mitigation of damages. The new
trial took place at Norwich Assizes in August, 1803, when a special jury
confirmed the former verdict, and awarded Sir Jacob Astley 2,000 pounds
damages. On December 3rd, it was announced that the case had been
removed to the Court of Exchequer on writ of error. In June, 1804, the
judges in the Exchequer Chamber unanimously confirmed the former verdict,
and gave judgment, with costs, against Col. Harwood. Finally, on July
19th, 1804, the case was taken to the House of Lords, when the Lord
Chancellor delivered his opinion in favour of Sir Jacob Astley, which was
confirmed by the Lords, who ordered Col. Harwood to pay Sir Jacob 100
pounds costs, occasioned by the writ of error.
The portrait of Capt. John Harvey, of the Norwich Light Horse Volunteers,
painted by Opie at the request of the corps, was this month placed in St.
Andrew's Hall.