3.--Died at Yarmouth, aged 70, Sir Edmund Lacon, Bart., senior alderman
of the borough. He four times served the office of Mayor. He was
succeeded by Mr. Edmund Knowles Lacon, of Ormsby.
11.--Soon after the arrival at Norwich of the coaches with the
intelligence of the abandonment of the Bill of Pains and Penalties after
its third reading in the House of Lords, the bells of "one or two of the
minor parishes" were rung, a few houses illuminated, and parties paraded
the streets with flambeaux, crying "Light up for the Queen." An attempt
to make a bonfire on the Castle ditches was prevented by the magistrates,
many of the torches were put out, and eight of the torch bearers taken to
the watch-house. In view of a disturbance 1,000 special constables were
sworn in on the 13th, on which evening a procession was formed on
Tombland. In passing through the city the mob groaned outside houses
which were not illuminated, and an iron ball was hurled through the
window of Dr. Reeve's house in St. Giles'. On the 23rd a public meeting
was held at St. Andrew's Hall, presided over by the Mayor, when
congratulatory resolutions and an address to the Queen were adopted.
(The address was subsequently presented to her Majesty at Bradenburgh
House by Mr. N. Bolingbroke, who was accompanied by Mr. W. Smith, M.P.,
and Mr. Edward Taylor.) After the meeting a bonfire was lighted in the
Market Place. "We understand that an impression of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE
(surely not dishonoured by being obnoxious to such a crew) was committed
to the flames." Demonstrations took place at Yarmouth, Lynn, and other
towns.
13.--The Olympic Circus was opened by Mr. T. Cooke at the Pantheon,
Norwich.
19.--Died in St. Andrew's, Norwich, aged 81, an eccentric person named
Charles Archer. "It was his constant practice to be at his post every
morning at four o'clock with his kettle of hot cocoa and saloop. His
station was near the Two-Necked-Swan, and he was allowed half a pint of
porter each morning for calling up the landlord at six, which custom
continuing 14 years he drank at that house 2,556 half pints, or something
more than 319 gallons. He had formerly been in the 12th Regiment of
Foot, and lost a leg in the memorable siege of Gibraltar, for which he
was granted a pension which he received 39 years. But what most affected
his mind next to the misfortune of having his leg shot away was to see a
hog, a circumstance related by himself, snatch it up in his mouth and run
away with it without his being able to prevent it."
28.--Died, in his 82nd year, at the Great Hospital, Bishopgate Street,
Norwich, Robert Davey, "who for several years was leader of the nocturnal
band of musicians vulgarly called 'mumpers,' though their performances
justly entitled them to a more respectable appellation. He personated
Orpheus in the grand procession which took place in Norwich in honour of
Bishop Blaize on March 24th, 1783."
29.--H.R.H. the Duke of York passed through Norwich on his way to Gunton
Hall, the seat of Lord Suffield. On the duke's approach to St. Stephen's
Gates the horses were taken from his carriage, and it was dragged through
St. Stephen's Street and Rampant Horse Street to the Market Place. After
changing horses at the Angel Inn, his Royal Highness proceeded on his
journey. On the following day the Duke of Wellington passed through the
city on his way to Gunton.
30.--Died, aged 102, Mr. John Walden, of Wells-next-the-Sea.