4.--Died, at the age of 101, Mrs. Aldborough, of Trowse.
5.--A meeting of the manufacturers was held at the Guildhall, Norwich,
"to consider the present prices paid for weaving." It was agreed to
adopt a reduced scale of payment. Meetings of the men were called, and
the employers were requested to reconsider the question. Another meeting
was accordingly held on the 9th, when Mr. Beloe urged that the proposals
of the employers were ill-advised. On the other hand it was stated that
goods were being manufactured in Yorkshire in large quantities at much
lower rates than in Norwich. It was contended by the weavers that
greatly increased demands had been made upon them for house rent and
coals, and that it was impossible for them to live on reduced wages. A
further statement was made to the effect that the lowering of prices
would tend to inferior workmanship. A mob assembled outside the
Guildhall and cheered or hooted the different manufacturers whom they
deemed friendly or adverse to their claims. One gentleman, Mr. William
Bosley, was very roughly handled, and his hat, coat, and shoes were taken
from him and torn to pieces. It was considered necessary to summon the
assistance of the 7th Dragoon Guards, but the mob dispersed after the
announcement had been made from the leads of the Guildhall that the
manufacturers had consented to return to the old prices. The weavers
spent the 10th in festivity and rejoicing.
6.--Died, William Coward, aged 85, for 54 years parish clerk at St.
Margaret's, Lynn. "He was borne to the grave by six grave-diggers, and
the pall was supported by six parish clerks."
8.--Died at Calcutta, the Right Rev. Thomas Fanshaw Middleton, D.D.,
Bishop of Calcutta, and formerly vicar of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich.
--A camping match took place at Ranworth, in the presence of 6,000
spectators, between men of the Blofield and of the Tunstead and Happing
Hundreds. "So closely were the men (ten a side) matched for strength,
courage, skill, and activity that the ball was nearly in the centre of
the ground when time was called and play stopped. At the conclusion of
the camp, Turner, of Witton, and Riches, of Upton, had a pugilistic trial
of manhood. A well-fought battle of thirty-two rounds of hard milling,
with little or no science, ended in favour of Riches."
19.--Mr. T. Filby, of Elsing, fell down dead in the Sessions Court at the
Shirehouse, Norwich, when in the act of entering the jury box.
20.--Puxley and Nelson's "New Fly Vans" were advertised to run between
the Star Inn, Norwich, and the Bull Inn, Aldgate, every day. The journey
was accomplished in twenty-four hours.
--At the Norfolk Quarter Sessions, Giuliano Mantova, an Italian boy, who
travelled the country with pictures for one Dominico Crostea, of Norwich,
was indicted for maliciously and fraudulently taking by force from
William Hill, employed by Messrs. Copeman and Petworth, solicitors,
Aylsham, a child named Susan Hoffrath. The prisoner denied that he had
enticed the child away, and his master gave him a good character; but the
jury found him guilty, and he was sentenced to two years' imprisonment in
Norwich Castle.
21.--Died at his house, Tombland, Norwich, aged 76, Mr. Charles Kitson,
one of the Chapter Registrars of the diocese of Norwich.
29.--Norwich Theatre was opened for the Assize week. "Since the period
of its leaving Norwich the company has been subject to almost an entire
change, and it is now equal to any provincial establishment of the
histrionic kind in the kingdom." The new members included Miss Wensley,
Mrs. Dowton, Mr. Osbaldiston, and Mr. Ford White. Mrs. Dowton was a
favourite actress in the Norfolk and Suffolk Company of Comedians, under
the management of Mr. Fisher, and afterwards married Mr. Sloman, the low
comedian of the Norwich Company.