4.--A meeting of the "Blue and White" freemen was held at the Ranelagh
Gardens, Norwich, under the presidency of Mr. William Smith, M.P., at
which was formed the Norwich Union Independent Society. Its object was
"to promote the purity of election."
8.--Died at Dublin, aged 24, Lieut. Henry Francis Bell, 58th Regiment of
Foot, grandson of Mr. Henry Bell, of Wallington. He was accidentally
shot by a recruit while at practice with ball cartridge.
10.--Great rejoicings took place at Cromer on the coming of age of the
heir of Felbrigg. The horses were removed from Mr. Windham's carriage,
which was dragged through the streets of the town. "Fourteen barrels of
strong ale and porter having been placed on a pleasant eminence on the
road to Felbrigg, thirteen were broached and distributed among the
company, and the remaining barrel was given to the poor of Cromer. A
ball was held at Felbrigg Hall in the evening."
13.--In the Rolls Court Lord Gifford delivered judgment in the tithe case
Bayley _v._ Sewell. The plaintiff was the lessee of the impropriate
rectory of Wymondham, and the defendant the occupier of certain farms
called the Great Park Farm and the Little Park Farm, which had been
purchased upwards of 200 years previously by Sir Henry Hobart, the then
Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, as tithe free, subject only to the
demand of a _modus_ of 1 pound 6s. 8d. in respect of the Great Park and
of 13s. 4d. in respect of the Little Park. This suit was instituted for
the purpose of compelling payment of tithes in respect of both farms; and
at the Norfolk Summer Assizes in 1825 the jury found for the plaintiff.
Lord Gifford, in his judgment, established the two ancient _moduses_
which exempted the properties from the payment of tithes.
15.--The discontinuance of Magdalen Fair, Norwich, was announced in the
following official notice:--"Sprowston, July 15th, 1826. Whereas it has
been represented to the executors and trustees of the estate of the late
Thomas Woodruffe Smith, Esq., lord of the manor of Sprowston and lord of
the fair called Mary Magdalene Fair, yearly held at Sprowston in the
Hundred of Taverham in the county of Norfolk, that divers tumults and
riotous proceedings have taken place at the above fair to the terror and
fear of the lives of the peaceable inhabitants of the said parish, and
great nuisances and depredations have been committed on their property,
notice is hereby given to all dealers and chapmen and all persons
whatever who have usually resorted thereto, that no fair will be held
this year on the 2nd day of August or any subsequent day at Sprowston
aforesaid, nor again in future, and any person or persons who may, after
this notice, be found trespassing on the lands where the fair has been
usually held, or on any other lands adjoining, or obstructing the public
roads in Sprowston aforesaid, will be dealt with according to law. By
order of the said Trustees, Lords of the Manor of Sprowston.--Thomas
Sayer, Bailiff."
15.--A fine vessel called the Rapid, upwards of 160 tons, was launched
from Mr. Preston's yard at Yarmouth.
22.--A historical play entitled "Viriatus, the Lusitanian Hero," written
by Mr. Thwaites, jun., of Norwich, a member of the Norwich Company, was
produced at the Theatre for the first time, and "was received with great
approbation."
30.--A singular phenomenon was witnessed at Cromer. "The lighthouse hill
and adjacent heights were literally covered with myriads of the insect
called Lady Bird of an unusually large sort."