1.--Robert Skipper, the Norwich pedestrian, began a walk of 1,000 miles
in 20 successive days. He started from St. Stephen's Gates at five
o'clock a.m. and returned from the twenty-fifth milestone on the Thetford
road at nine p.m. He relinquished the task on the ninth day in
consequence of lameness.
8.--Miss O'Neil commenced a five nights' engagement at Norwich Theatre.
She appeared in the characters of Belvidera ("Venice Preserved"), Juliet,
Mrs. Haller ("The Stranger"), Mrs. Beverley ("The Gamester"), and Mrs.
Oakley ("The Jealous Wife"). "The box office was literally besieged
every morning, and the spirit of politeness and gallantry maintained only
a very feeble influence over the conduct of the assembled multitude. No
law prevailed but that of the strongest; nothing was to be heard but
shrieks, reproaches, and lamentations--nothing to be seen but bonnets
cramped up, hats squeezed flat, torn gowns and coat flaps, and a motley
mob in the highest state of exasperation, fermentation, and desperation.
On the nights of the performance the house was crowded in every part.
Families of the highest respectability, both of the town and from the
country, were to be seen contenting themselves, many of them with
inconvenient situations. Even the orchestra was occupied by the
audience." The receipts averaged 200 pounds a night, and Miss O'Neil,
including her benefit, received 700 pounds.
--A public meeting was held at the Guildhall, Norwich, at which it was
decided to apply to Parliament for leave to bring in a Bill for widening
and deepening the Norwich river so as to render it navigable by vessels
of burden from Norwich to the sea. The Mayor presided, and the project,
which afterwards gave rise to the famous agitation "Norwich, a Port," was
introduced by Mr. Crisp Brown.
--Buonaparte's military coach was exhibited by Mr. Bullock, of the London
Museum, at Mr. Smith's coach manufactory, Swan Yard, St. Peter Mancroft,
Norwich.
26.--The Phenomena day coach was advertised to run from the Angel Inn,
Norwich, and the One Bull Inn, Bury, to the Bull Inn, Aldgate, London, in
fourteen hours. It set out from Norwich at a quarter to six. The
proprietors, William Pawson, T. Bridgeman, George Archer, and Ann Nelson,
Son, and Co., prohibited racing on the part of their coachman. The rival
coach, the Norwich and London Original day coach, started from the
Norfolk Hotel every morning at a quarter to seven and ran to the Spread
Eagle, Gracechurch Street, and the Swan with Two Necks, Lad Lane, through
Bury, Sudbury, Chelmsford, and Romford. Racing was prohibited by the
proprietors, namely, R. Gurney, T. Boyce, Chapman, S. Bright, J. Boldero,
J. Tomlinson, Elizabeth Boyce and Son, and W. Waterhouse.
28.--Died, the Rev. St. John Priest, A.M., master of Scarning Free
School, rector of Reepham with Kerdiston and of Billingford, and vicar of
Parham with Hacheston, Suffolk. He was secretary of the Norfolk
Agricultural Society from its institution in 1800.