1.--A remarkable funeral took place at Shelfanger. The body of Mr.
Smith, a farmer, was conveyed from Fersfield in a waggon drawn by his own
team. The coffin was covered with a waggon tilt, and sacks of straw
served as seats for his children and grandchildren. Behind the waggon
walked his riding horse as chief mourner, and the singers of the
congregation chanted a funeral dirge. "He was a person who in habits,
manners, and opinions exhibited a singularity that was not easily
paralleled."
4.--Died at St. Gregory's, Norwich, aged 61, Mrs. Chesnutt, wife of Mr.
John Chesnutt. For many years she was a favourite dancer on the Norwich
stage.
--At a special assembly of the Corporation of Norwich, it was decided to
present to the Prince Regent an address, congratulating him upon "the
late glorious victories with which the Almighty had been pleased to crown
the arms of his Majesty and his Allies."
5.--Died, of wounds received at Bayonne, Ensign Hardy, 31st Regiment of
Foot, son of Mr. James Hardy, of Hethersettt.
6.--Died, at his house at Catton, Mr. Jeremiah Ives Harvey, Alderman of
Conisford Ward, Norwich. He served the office of Sheriff in 1779, and
was Mayor in 1783. He was in his 69th year.
7.--A curious incident occurred at the funeral of Benjamin Edwards, for
20 years coachman to Lord Suffield at Blickling. "The corpse was
conveyed from the house to the church for interment, followed by thirty
servants in their liveries. After the Rev. Mr. Churchill had retired
from the grave an old acquaintance came forward and performed a promise
which had been made by each party, which was done as follows:--He
enquired his age, and was informed it was 64. He then took a bottle of
rum from his pocket and threw it upon the head of the coffin. From the
fall the bottle broke and the rum was distributed upon the lid of the
coffin. He said 'God bless him. I have performed my promise as I am
sure he would have done had I gone first.'"
8.*--"A few days since the harriers of Mr. J. Gooch unexpectedly found an
outlying deer in Hempnall Wood, which they immediately drove from covert,
and it afforded a most capital chase without a break for an hour and
forty minutes, through sixteen parishes and a hard run of 28 miles."
--*"Lieut. Robert Blake, of the 3rd Regiment of Foot, was so severely
wounded in the action near Bayonne that he had his leg amputated."
9.--Very severe weather was experienced this month. On the 9th at nine
p.m. the thermometer fell 20 degrees below freezing point, and the
severity of the frost rendered the river impassable between Norwich and
Yarmouth. On the 19th occurred a heavy fall of snow, which blocked the
roads and prevented traffic. The mail bags were brought to Norwich on
horseback; the London waggons which should have arrived on the 19th came
in on the evening of the 20th, drawn by teams of twelve or fourteen
horses. Carriers who had arrived in the city were unable to return; the
Yarmouth coach was preceded by an empty waggon which, drawn by six
horses, made a road for it. A second sharp frost occurred on February
15th, and continued to the 25th, when the thermometer registered 17
degrees below freezing point.
10.--Mr. Crisp Brown was elected an Alderman for Coslany Ward, Norwich,
in place of Mr. Jeremiah Ives Harvey, deceased.
13.--A general thanksgiving took place for the late victories. The Mayor
and Corporation of Norwich attended service at the Cathedral, and at the
various churches and chapels in the city collections were made for the
poor.
--The portrait of Mr. T. W. Coke, M.P., painted by Sir Thomas Lawrence,
was presented to the county magistrates by the subscribers, and placed in
the Grand Jury chamber at the Shirehouse, Norwich.
26.--At a meeting held at the Guildhall, Norwich, presided over by Mr.
Steward Alderson, it was decided to establish a similar society to the
Norwich Benevolent Society, but upon a more extensive and permanent plan.
Visitors were appointed for each parish, and 2,400 pounds was raised.
--News was received at Norwich of the conclusion of Peace between this
country and Denmark, and St. Peter Mancroft bells were rung in
celebration.
29.--A main of cocks was fought at the Swan Inn, Norwich, between the
gentlemen of Cambridgeshire and the gentlemen of Norwich, for 10 guineas
a battle and 100 guineas the odd. Cambridgeshire won with five battles
to the good.