6.--Mons. Louis, a native of Lorraine, 26 years of age, seven feet six
inches in height, was exhibited at the Angel Inn, Norwich.
7.--Intelligence was received in Norwich of the death of H.R.H. the Duke
of York, and the great bell of St. Peter Mancroft, and the bells of other
churches in the city, were tolled for two hours. On Saturday, the 13th,
the day of the funeral, "all the shops in Norwich were kept as closely
shut as on the Sabbath"; the Mayor and Corporation attended service at
the Cathedral; and funeral sermons were preached at many of the parish
churches and city chapels.
11.--A meeting of the Norfolk Cricket Club was held at Norwich, when
rules were adopted. It was agreed to play four matches during the year,
one on each of the four grounds to be established by the club in the
neighbourhood of Norwich, Yarmouth, Swaffham, and Gunton. Rule 20
provided that members, clergymen excepted, should wear at the annual
meetings the uniform dress--"a dark blue coat with buttons lettered
'N.C.C.,' with white waistcoat, &c." Mr. Philip Gurdon, of Letton, was
elected treasurer.
12.--A bull driven along St. Martin's Street, Norwich, entered the Bess
of Bedlam public-house, and rushing upstairs made its way into a room
where a musical party was held. The animal was dislodged with great
difficulty.
--At a meeting of the county magistrates the question of the conduct of
business was discussed. Several magistrates resisted the idea that the
public had a right to claim admission, and it was agreed that the
proceedings be read in the lower court at the close of each meeting, and
"such of them as appeared advisable be advertised in the newspapers."
13.--Very severe weather was experienced in Norfolk. The thermometer on
this date registered 14 degrees below freezing point. A heavy fall of
snow on the 15th impeded coach traffic in the neighbourhood of Swaffham.
"Many hundreds of rabbits perished in the Thetford and Brandon districts
through being out in search of food and unable to find their burrows
again."
26.--A severe storm occurred on the Norfolk coast. Four vessels drove
from their anchors and stranded on Yarmouth beach; and a brig was wrecked
on Happisburgh sands. The whole of her crew perished.
29.--On November 28th, 1826, three candidates were nominated for the
office of City Chamberlain at Norwich, of whom Mr. James Goodwin had the
majority in the Court of Aldermen and Mr. Beckwith in the Common Council.
The assembly broke up without electing the Chamberlain. On January 29th
a special meeting of the Corporation was held in consequence of the Mayor
having received notice that a rule of the Court of King's Bench would be
applied for requiring them to shew cause why a writ of _mandamus_ should
not issue commanding them to admit and swear Mr. Goodwin into the office
of Chamberlain and other offices. It was ordered that cause be shown.
On February 10th the Court of King's Bench discharged the rule _nisi_.
At a special meeting of the Corporation on March 9th, the Town Clerk
reported on the result of the motion, and Mr. A. A. H. Beckwith was then
unanimously elected Chamberlain, and Mr. John Skipper Speaker of the
Common Council, in place of Mr. Beckwith. A new Council was elected in
April, and at a special assembly on May 16th, Mr. Beckwith was requested
to leave the room. The Speaker, Mr. J. S. Parkinson (who had been
elected in place of Mr. Skipper), declined to recognise Mr. Beckwith as
Chamberlain. Mr. Goodwin was then proposed, and elected to the office.
At a Council meeting on June 7th, Mr. Beckwith took his seat as
Chamberlain, and was asked to retire; he refused, and the beadle was
called in. Mr. Beckwith, addressing that officer, said, "I give you
notice, if you lay your hands on me you do so at your peril." One of the
members remarked that if the beadle did not turn him out they would. Mr.
Beckwith was then led out by the beadle, and the incident terminated.