2.--A party of thieves, known as the "Cossey gang," committed great
depredations in the neighbourhood of Norwich. On the night of the 2nd
they broke into the Half Moon public-house, Stone Hills, and stole
sixteen gallons of spirits and other property. "Tired of committing
depredations on foot, about ten o'clock at night, as soon as they find
those who keep horses are gone to bed, they resort to the stables and
take out what horses they want, ride to the spot of depredation, whether
for game, poultry, sheep, &c., and when done return the horses almost
jaded and harassed to death." (See August 2nd, 1822.)
9.--The Marquis of Titchfield was elected without opposition as member of
Parliament for King's Lynn, in place of Sir Martin Browne ffolkes,
deceased.
12.--The poor of Norwich and its neighbourhood were informed by
advertisement that medical and surgical advice was given free at the
Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye, St Benedict's, Norwich (late Messrs.
Day's bank), by Mr. L. Evans, M.D., physician, and Messrs. Robert Hull
and T. Martineau, jun., surgeons. At a public meeting held on July 11th,
under the presidency of Sir Robert J. Harvey, it was resolved that "the
Norfolk and Norwich Infirmary for Diseases of the Eye, instituted and
supported by Dr. Evans, Mr. Hull, and Mr. T. Martineau, has already been
productive of great advantage, and is deserving of public support."
--A meeting of the proprietors and occupiers of land was held at the
Shirehouse, Norwich, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the
present most truly alarming state of agriculture." The High Sheriff (Sir
Jacob Astley) presided. Resolutions were adopted urging the diminution
of taxation by means of rigid economy, the repeal of one half of the Malt
Tax, and the removal of the heavy imposts upon candles, salt, leather,
&c. A petition embodying these views was ordered to be presented to the
House of Commons. After this date many similar meetings were held in the
principal towns and villages in the Hundreds of the county, ostensibly
for the purpose of suggesting remedies for agricultural distress and of
promoting Parliamentary reform. It was alleged that many of these
gatherings were of a party character, and on May 18th, the NORFOLK
CHRONICLE observed: "The discussion of agricultural distress was last
week suspended, and the mask of Parliamentary Reform entirely thrown off
by those who for the last four months have displayed so much violence
against the Government in pursuing the one, and casting so much obloquy
upon Parliament in assuming the other."
24.--The annual dinner held at Norwich in celebration of the birthday of
Fox was attended by H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of Norfolk, the
Earl of Albemarle (who presided), Mr. T. W. Coke, and many other
representatives of the Whig nobility and gentry of the county.
28.--Two Corsican stags, presented by Lord Maynard to Mr. Robert Hamond,
gave the Westacre Hunt good sport this season. "The first was turned off
at Rougham on the 28th, and gave them a severe chase of nearly three
hours, from the effects of which two horses died. They are very superior
to the red deer of this country from their capability to endure extreme
fatigue and to take the most extraordinary leaps."
31.--Norwich Theatre was opened for the season with the grand spectacle
of "The Coronation."