3.--Holkham Sheep Shearing, which commenced on this date, was attended by
a very large company. "Perhaps we cannot give our readers a better idea
of the utility of the system of agriculture practised at Holkham, than to
inform them that it and the adjoining country for many miles around were
fifty years ago a barren waste where scarcely a rabbit could find
subsistence, and that it is now the garden of England, covered with most
luxuriant crops of every description." H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex, and
the Russian Princes Potemkin and Trabetzkoy, were present this year. Mr.
Morton, of Leith, showed a small cast-iron plough, performing five
different operations; a revolving harrow, and a weed extirpator.
3.--A prize fight took place on Tharston Common between Dan, the
stonemason, and Gales, the butcher. The stakes amounted to 20 pounds,
and 120 rounds were fought in one hour twenty-one minutes. Gales was the
winner.
8.*--"We congratulate the county on the election of a Norfolk man, Dr.
Hyde Wollaston, to the president's chair of the Royal Society. It is a
curious circumstance that the presidents of three very distinguished and
scientific bodies, and two of the principal officers of two others are
natives of this county, namely, Dr. Wollaston, president of the Royal
Society; Sir James Edward Smith, president of the Linnaean Society; Dr.
Astley Cooper, president of the Medical Chirurgical Society; Mr. Richard
Taylor, secretary of the Linnaean Society; and Mr. John Taylor, treasurer
of the Geological Society."
17.--The great prize fight between Painter and Oliver, commemorated by
Borrow in "Lavengro," took place near North Walsham. The stakes were 100
pounds a side, and the amateurs of Norwich gave 20 pounds towards the
training expenses of Oliver, on condition that he fought within
reasonable distance of Norwich. The battle was contested upon a
platform. A staging about 100 yards in length was erected for the
accommodation of spectators, for whom, also, sixty waggons were formed in
a circle round the outer ring; 50 pounds was collected at the gate, and
the sums charged for admission to the seats on the staging produced 80
pounds. The greatest order prevailed among the 20,000 persons present,
the ring being kept by Shelton, Randall, Turner, Scroggins, Eales, Josh
Hudson, Harmer, Purcell, and other noted pugilists. Oliver was seconded
by Cribb and Belcher, and Painter by Spring (his former opponent) and
Paul. The odds were five and a half to four on Painter. Twelve rounds
were fought, and Painter won. His colours (yellow) were hoisted upon a
waggon, and he was everywhere greeted with loud cheering. Many of the
London contingent lost heavily over the fight.--A second battle took
place between Sampson, the Birmingham youth, and Martin, the baker (the
Master of the Rolls). The former was seconded by Turner and Paul, and
the latter by Cribb and Spring. The odds were six to four on Martin, who
won after 29 rounds, fought in 38 minutes. It was during this fight that
the thunderstorm, so vividly described by Borrow, occurred. At a dinner
given at North Walsham the same evening Painter announced that this was
his last appearance in the prize ring. Other "festivities" took place
the same week. On the 19th there was a "turn up" between Josh Hudson and
Belasco on Gurney's bowling-green, Norwich, the former of whom was
seconded by Spring and a Norwich amateur, and his opponent by Martin.
Thirty-three rounds were fought, in the course of which Hudson dislocated
his shoulder and lost. The sum of 10 pounds was collected round the
ring. On Saturday, 22nd, a benefit was given for Painter in the large
room at the Swan Inn, at which most of the above-named pugilists
appeared. "The amateurs could not separate without giving a chance to
West Country Dick, who was matched against George Redgrave." The fight
was decided in the room. Dick won after a contest of eleven rounds
occupying sixteen minutes.
--The great main of cocks annually fought between the gentlemen of
Norwich and the gentlemen of Cambridgeshire this year fell through. A
match was accordingly arranged with the gentlemen of London. It
commenced on this date at the Swan Inn, Norwich, for 10 pounds a battle
and 100 pounds the odd, and ended on the 19th, when the local sportsmen
won by four battles. Feeders: Nash, sen., for London, Lamb for Norwich.
19.--Married at St. Luke's Chapel, Norwich Cathedral, by the Lord Bishop,
the Rev. Heaton C. de Crespigny, second son of Sir W. de Crespigny,
Bart., M.P., to Miss Caroline Bathurst, third daughter of his lordship.