1.--Lord Henry Cholmondeley was elected Member of Parliament for the
borough of Castle Rising, in the room of the Earl of Rocksavage, created
a peer by the title of Baron Newburgh.
11.--The Papyruseum, an exhibition of models formed of paper by Mrs.
Aberdein, was opened at the White Swan Inn, Norwich.
14.--A smuggling boat landed 80 tubs of gin and brandy on Snettisham
beach. The crew of the preventive boat seized the cargo, a portion of
which with their boat was rescued by the smugglers, who had the
assistance of about 100 persons, some of whom were armed with bludgeons
and fowling pieces. Twenty or thirty horses and carts were in waiting to
remove the contraband goods. Two of the smugglers were wounded in the
affray.
18.--Lynn Theatre was opened under the management of Mr. T. Marsters.
19.--Skipper, the Norwich pedestrian, walked 50 miles in a few minutes
under eleven hours at Lynn.
23.*--"We understand that the manufactory of bombazines and crapes in
Norwich is likely to be affected from the circumstance of those articles
being now made in considerable quantities in various parts of Lancashire
at a much lower rate of wages for the weaving than that which is paid
here."
26.--Married, by special licence, at the house of the Earl of Albemarle,
St. James's Square, London, by the Lord Bishop of Norwich, Mr. Thomas
William Coke, M.P., of Holkham, to Lady Anne Keppel, second daughter of
the earl.
27.--The machine breaking riots commenced in Norfolk. Upwards of a
hundred labourers assembled at Kenninghall, and seized the threshing
machine of Mr. Bailey, a farmer. The Rev. J. Surtees, of Banham, a
county justice, at once proceeded to a neighbouring farm where an auction
was being held, and, in the King's name, requested the auctioneer and the
farmers present to assist him in quelling the disturbance. The whole
party rode over to Kenninghall, and after the Riot Act had been read the
mob dispersed. On March 4th there were further riotous assemblies at
Attleborough, Shropham, Buckenham, Banham, &c. The Eye troop of Yeomanry
Cavalry were called out, and of the 30 rioters secured eight who were
regarded as ringleaders, and they were sent to Norwich Castle under
cavalry escort. The Yeomanry after lodging the prisoners in gaol were
assailed by a Norwich mob, who stoned them in the streets, and attacked
the Trowel and Hammer public-house, St. Stephen's, where they had halted
to bait their horses. The troopers returned to headquarters at East
Harling after a march of eighty miles in twenty hours. Many prisoners
were also committed to the Castle from other districts, and several cases
of incendiarism were reported. At the adjourned Quarter Sessions for the
county, held at Norwich on the 6th, the rioters were tried and sentenced
to various terms of imprisonment in the Bridewells and houses of
correction in the county. A guard of the West Norfolk Militia was
stationed at the Castle, and a squadron of the Norwich Light Horse
Volunteers did duty at the Cavalry Barracks until relieved by the 16th
Lancers. The Lancers and Light Horse afterwards acted as escorts to the
vans by which the prisoners were conveyed to the different prisons. On
the march the military were repeatedly stoned by the mobs. Detachments
of the 7th Dragoon Guards were stationed at Hingham and Attleborough, and
remained at those places until the lawless disposition manifested by the
rural population had subsided.