9.--Wombwell exhibited his menagerie on the Castle Meadow, Norwich.
16.--Mr. Blanchard appeared at Norwich Theatre as Toby Allspice ("The Way
to Get Married") and Crack ("The Turnpike Gate"). Among the other
characters impersonated during his engagement were Dr. Ollapod, Sir Abel
Handy, Mungo, Job Thornberry ("John Bull"), Capt. Meadows ("The Deaf
Lover"), &c.
28.--At the Norfolk Assizes held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice
Richards, William Hardiment and Benjamin Neal, who were concerned with
James Johnson in the murder of Mr. Baker at Wells-next-the-Sea on October
11th, 1817, were put upon their trial. Hardiment had evaded
apprehension, and at the Spring Assizes in 1818 the bill charging Neal as
an accessory was thrown out by the Grand Jury. Several witnesses now
deposed to having seen Johnson and Hardiment in company at about the time
of the murder, and two persons confined in Aylsham bridewell at the same
time that Hardiment and Neal were prisoners there gave evidence as to
hearing conversations between the two when planning the murder. One of
these witnesses (Thomas Robinson), on December 24th, 1821, met Hardiment
at Beverley, in Yorkshire, and gave information which led to his arrest.
The jury found Hardiment guilty, and acquitted Neal. Hardiment was
executed on the Castle Hill, Norwich, at noon on April 1st in the
presence of an immense crowd of spectators. "Not more than three yards
from the gallows a boy was knocked down by a gentleman who detected him
picking his pockets."
--At the same Assizes, before Mr. Justice Richards, the cause Lock, D.D.,
_v._ the Bishop of Norwich was tried. In consequence of simony alleged
to have been committed by the Rev. Dr. Lock, the patron of the advowson
of Hilgay, the Crown had seized the living and presented the Rev. Dr.
Hewlett thereto on April 6th, 1819. This action of _quare impedit_ was
instituted by the plaintiff to try the right of the Crown to such
presentation. The defendant raised three pleas: (1) that the Rev. John
Royle being seized of the living of Hilgay it was corruptly agreed that
Lock should resign the living of Compton Martin, in Somersetshire, and
cause him (Royle) to be presented to it, and also that Lock should pay
Royle the sum of 12,900 pounds for the advowson of Hilgay, and that in
consideration of the promises Royle should resign the living and cause
Lock to be presented to it. (2) That Lock being seized of the living of
Hilgay did corruptly agree with one James Craddock, that in consideration
of the said Craddock paying to him the sum of 25,000 pounds he (Lock)
should convey to Craddock the advowson of Hilgay, and also resign the
living and cause him (Craddock) to be presented to it. (3) That Lock,
being seized of Hilgay, having presented Craddock, did corruptly agree
that, in consideration of Lock abandoning certain proceedings in an
action for debt against Craddock, he should forego proceedings upon a
bill of indictment for perjury preferred by Lock against Craddock, but
Lock corruptly prevailed upon Craddock to resign the living in order that
he (Lock) might present himself to it. The jury gave a verdict for the
Crown generally upon all pleas. The Judge: A very proper verdict. It is
very disgraceful dealing, gentlemen.
30.*--(Advt.) "To be fought at the White Swan Inn, Norwich, on Monday,
April 15th, 1822, and two following days, three double-days' play of
cocks for ten guineas a battle and 200 guineas the odd, between the
gentlemen of Norwich and the gentlemen of Northampton. Feeders: Stafford
for Norwich, Nash for Northampton."