5.--Arrived, at Yarmouth, part of the 40 sail of transports, for the
purpose of receiving on board the 2nd Battalions of the 11th and 59th
Regiments of Foot, the 1st Battalion of the 79th, and other regiments for
the Expedition.
11.--At Norwich Quarter Sessions, George Hubbard was indicted for
stealing a pair of velveteen breeches. "The offence being for a grand
larceny the prisoner was allowed to plead the benefit of clergy." He was
sentenced to six months' solitary confinement and to be publicly whipped.
12.--A curious case was tried at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions. In the
course of the inquiry into the conduct of the Duke of York in September,
1808, it was stated that a Mrs. Sinclair Sutherland had written to his
Royal Highness to induce him, "for certain reasons," not to permit Major
Turner, 3rd Dragoon Guards, to sell out in favour of Lieut. Sitwell until
the following March. In consequence of this communication, Major
Turner's resignation was not accepted until some months after it had been
sent in. Major Turner went to reside at Buckenham, in this county.
Owing to the annoyance to which he was subjected by Mrs. Sutherland, who,
it was alleged, had been under his protection, he appeared in court and
moved to exhibit articles of the peace against her. The court ordered
the defendant to enter into her own recognisances of 100 pounds and to
keep the peace for one year. At the Quarter Sessions on October 4th,
Major Turner exhibited fresh articles against Mrs. Sutherland, and stated
that seven days after entering into her recognisances she again appeared
at his house and committed a breach of the peace. The court thereupon
ordered Mrs. Sutherland to find two sureties of 100 pounds each, and to
keep the peace for twelve months. Not being prepared with her bond, she
was committed to Norwich Castle, but was afterwards released upon two
Norwich gentlemen agreeing to be bound for her.
15.--Mr. Incledon appeared at the Theatre Royal, Norwich, in his
entertainment, in three parts, entitled, "A Voyage to India." A
recitation was given by Mr. Powell, formerly of Norwich Theatre, and of
Drury Lane Theatre.
22.--A duel was fought, "in a grove near Norwich, between Mr. B . . . n
and Mr. L . . b . . t, both of Norwich, in consequence, we understand, of
their paying their addresses to the same young lady. The parties fired,
but neither received any injury, after which a reconciliation took place,
and Mr. L. resigned his pretensions to the fair lady."
24.--A letter was received by the Commandant of the Norwich Volunteer
Infantry, from the Lord Lieutenant of the County, "signifying his
Majesty's intention not to make any further allowance for clothing to
Volunteer corps, and desiring to know whether the Norwich Volunteers
would consider themselves a corps, or transfer their services to the
Local Militia?" The Colonel replied "that they would continue their
services as long as his Majesty would be pleased to accept them and their
present clothing held out."
29.--It was announced that Mr. Henry Aston Barker, "who painted the
pictures of London, Paris, Constantinople, Edinburgh, Dublin, Cairo,
&c.," exhibited in Leicester Square, London, had drawn "a panoramic view
of Norwich and the surrounding country, as seen from the Castle Hill,
accompanied by a perspective view of the Castle, engraved in stroke by
Mr. Williams."
31.--The annual exhibition of the Norwich Society of Artists was opened
in Sir Benjamin Wrenche's Court.
--At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Norwich, the case of the King _v._
Larke, Mileham, and others was tried. This was a prosecution for rioting
in a Dissenting meeting-house at Aylsham, and for an assault upon a
preacher, named Joseph King, on Sunday evening, March 13th, 1808. The
defendants behaved in a very disorderly manner in the chapel, and carried
off the minister by force to the Dog Inn. The case was settled by the
defendants apologising to the prosecutor in open court, and by paying the
costs of the prosecution.
--At the same Assizes, Lord Chief Justice Mansfield had before him the
action, Leathes, clerk, _v._ Baker. It was brought by the Rector of
Reedham, under a statute of Edward VI., to recover treble the value of
the tithes of corn grown on the defendant's farm there, in 1808, and
involved in dispute a sum of between 300 and 400 pounds. The two main
points which the plaintiff endeavoured to substantiate were, first, that
the tenant had not set out the tithes according to law; and, secondly, if
set out, it was done fraudulently and unfairly. It was proved that in
one field defendant cut the whole crop, tithed and carried a part on one
day, and the remainder on the following day. The Judge ruled that this
mode of tithing was contrary to law, and said he was sorry to be obliged
to direct the special jury to find for the plaintiff. The jury, after
requesting his lordship to inform them what was the lowest sum they could
award, so as not to subject the defendant to costs, assessed the amount
at 8 pounds. A similar action was brought by the same plaintiff at the
Lent Assizes at Thetford, on March 19th, 1810, against a farmer, named
Maddison, when the jury found for the defendant. At the Norfolk Assizes,
held at Norwich, on August 13th, 1810, before the Lord Chief Justice,
Baker brought an action against Mr. Leathes, to recover damages for
inconvenience and loss sustained by him in 1808, by reason of the
defendant allowing his tithes to remain and rot on the plaintiff's land.
A verdict was given for Baker, damages, 150 pounds. At the same Assizes,
Mr. Leathes brought an action against a farmer, named Long, for not
setting out his tithes according to law. Verdict for the plaintiff,
damages, 12 pounds.
31.--The Grand Jury for the County held a meeting, at which renewed
efforts were commenced to procure the removal of the Lent Assizes from
Thetford to Norwich. It was decided to petition Parliament with that
object. At Norwich Quarter Sessions, on October 3rd, the Grand Jury made
a presentment, asking the city magistrates to co-operate with the county
justices. On October 11th, the Norwich Corporation resolved to aid the
county in the application to Parliament, and in February, 1810, a
petition in favour of the removal was presented in the House of Commons
by Mr. Patteson.