"Let mortal man his grief and care give o'er,
Nor crave the aid of potion or of pill;
For Payne now makes our sides with laughter sore,
And, tho' he threatens, yet--neglects to kill."
8.--Mr. Mathews appeared at Norwich Theatre as Solomon Gundy ("Who Wants
a Guinea?"). His impersonations on succeeding evenings included Scrub
("The Beaux' Stratagem") and Goldfinch ("The Road to Ruin"). He also
gave his entertainments, "A Trip to Paris," "At Home," and "The Actor of
All Work."
9.--At a general meeting of the Norwich Paving Act Commissioners a plan
submitted by Mr. Gostling, of Birmingham, for lighting the city with gas
was taken into consideration, and on the motion of Mr. P. M. Martineau it
was agreed, by 26 votes to 17, that "it is expedient to light such parts
of the city with gas on the plan suggested and that the necessary steps
be taken to carry the plan into effect." A committee was also appointed
to further the project. On September 30th a meeting was held at the
Guildhall for the purpose of receiving information relative to the
proposed introduction of oil gas. The meeting was adjourned until the
25th, when the Mayor was invited to call a public meeting. The Paving
Commissioners met on October 12th, when permission was given to break up
the streets to lay down pipes, provided that such breaches were repaired
to the satisfaction of the City Surveyor at the expense of the promoters.
A public meeting was held on October 26th, at which it was recommended
that a company be formed for the purpose of lighting the city with oil
gas, and that not less than 2,500 pounds be raised in shares of 25 pounds
each for carrying the resolution into effect. Two separate bodies appear
to have come into existence, the one known as the Oil Gas Company, and
the other as the Oil Gas Community. These bodies adjusted their
differences, and on December 1st Mr. Charles Harvey obtained leave in the
House of Commons to bring in a Bill for lighting with gas the city and
county of the city of Norwich. The Bill was read a second time on
December 21st, and in due course became law. On January 31st, 1820, the
first of the iron gas pipes were laid in the Market Place; and on May
10th, 1820, the street lamps and burners in several shops were lighted
with gas for the first time. "In the Market Place it produced a strong
and steady light as far as it extended, and before Messrs. Bignold's
house and office in Surrey Street, where there were three lamps, the
effect was brilliant."
12.--A salmon measuring 48 inches in length, 23 inches in girth, and
weighing 33 lbs., was caught at the New Mills, Norwich. "These fish,
which are frequently taken in the same place, are mistaken by some for
trouts or salmon trouts."
15.--Miss Booth, of Covent Garden Theatre, appeared at Norwich Theatre as
Letitia Hardy ("The Belle's Stratagem"). Her other impersonations
included Little Pickle ("The Spoiled Child"), Helen Worret ("Man and
Wife"), Priscilla Tomboy ("The Romp"), Angela ("The Castle Spectre"),
Amanthus ("Child of Nature"), and Mary ("The Innkeeper's Daughter").
16.--Miss Fanny Brunton made her _debut_ at Lynn Theatre as Una ("The
Wood Demon"). Mr. Brunton spoke an introductory address. At the close
of the Lynn season, Mr. Brunton and his company proceeded to Birmingham,
where he had engaged the Theatre on his own account.
18.--Died in London, Sir Thomas Berners Plestow, Kt., of Watlington Hall,
aged 70.
20.--Elizabeth Wells, wife of Robert Wells, of Gressenhall, gave birth to
four living children--three boys and a girl.
24.--The honorary freedom of the city was conferred upon Mr. R. H.
Gurney, M.P., for Norwich.
--The portrait, by Clover, of Mr. B. Leman, Alderman of Norwich, was
ordered to be placed in St. Andrew's Hall.
--The Corporation of Norwich petitioned Parliament praying that the
punishment of death for the crime of forgery be commuted for one less
severe, and for a general revision of the penal laws.
27.--One John Larkin was apprehended at Norwich "on a strong suspicion of
being the person who stole a bag containing 4,739 pounds in notes
belonging to the Fakenham bank, on August 13th, 1817, from the
messenger's gig, which was conveying it from Messrs. Gurney's bank in
Norwich." (There is no further reference to this case.)
Died, this month, aged 100, Thomas Goodings, carpenter, of Lammas.