6.--A cricket match, between the Marylebone and the Norfolk Clubs,
commenced on the Dereham ground. "Lord Suffield, president of the county
club, with Lady Suffield, was present, and 20 or 30 gentlemen's carriages
were on the ground, whilst hundreds of spectators were gathered around."
Scores: Marylebone, 64-78; Norfolk, 95-48.
10.--Miss Paton re-appeared at Norwich Theatre for one night, as Agnes
("Der Freischutz") and Diana Vernon ("Rob Roy").
11.--Died, Mr. Richard Gurney, of the Bowling Green Inn, Norwich, aged
48. (The "retired coachman, with one leg," in "Lavengro.")
13.--At the Norfolk Assizes, at Norwich, before Mr. Baron Garrow, Ireland
Watts and Robert Watts were charged on an information filed by the
Attorney-General, with obstructing Custom-house officers in the discharge
of their duty. Capt. De Lafosse, the officer at Mundesley, traced
contraband goods to the house of the defendants at Antingham. Having
obtained a writ of assistance, he proceeded to the house with Lieut. Lee,
several of the coastguard, and a peace officer. Admittance was demanded,
and the defendants offered resistance. The captain then drew his pistol
and threatened to fire, when Robert Watts bared his breast, exclaiming,
"Fire, and be d---d." Capt. De Lafosse, fearing he could not enter the
house without bloodshed, withdrew his men. Mr. Kelly, for the defence,
submitted that the captain's authority did not permit him to search the
house, but the special jury returned a verdict of guilty. In the Court
of King's Bench, in November, Mr. Kelly moved for a rule to show why
there should not be a new trial, on the ground of the invalidity of the
officer's writ. Lord Tenterden held that this might be a question of
great importance on public grounds, although in the individual case it
was of little consequence. Rule granted. (There is no further record of
this case.)
14.--At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Parke, John Stratford
(42) was found guilty of the murder of John Burgess, an inmate of Norwich
Workhouse, by poisoning him with arsenic, on March 2nd. The execution
took place on the roof of the new Gaol, on August 17th. After hanging an
hour, the body was removed to the lower court at the Guildhall, where it
was publicly exposed for two hours. Thence it was conveyed to the
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where Mazzotti, the modeller, took a cast
of the head; and on the 18th Mr. Crosse commenced a series of anatomical
lectures at the dissection of the body. A public subscription was
started for the widow and family of the culprit.
25.--Mr. Charles Middleton and Mr. Samuel Shalders Beare were nominated
for the office of freemen's Sheriff. At the poll "the partizans of Mr.
Beare announced upon their cards that they gave one shilling, but as soon
as they found that their opponents were giving 2s. 6d., they outbid the
'Purples' by offering 2s. 6d. and a pot of beer. At three o'clock the
'Purple and Orange' party headed their opponents by 64. The 'Blues' went
to work in purse and person, and placed themselves in a majority. The
'Purples,' finding they could not regain the advantage, at 5.30 informed
the Mayor they did not wish to put their opponents to any further
expense. Beare, 1,200; Middleton, 1,023."
--A singular wedding took place at Fakenham. The bridegroom was Thomas
Hudson, aged 79, and the bride Martha Frary, aged 21. They were followed
to church by an unfortunate cripple, driving his curricle of dogs.
Immediately after the hymeneal knot was tied, the bridegroom was torn
from his fainting partner, thrown into an open cart, decorated with ram's
horns, and drawn through the principal streets of the town, amidst the
firing of guns and the shouts and ridicule of the people.
29.--The Corporation of Lynn, according to custom, assembled at the
Guildhall on St. John's-day, and went to St. Margaret's Church. "Groups
of persons assembled at an early hour to witness the bearing of the
branch to the house of the Mayor-elect, Mr. William Bagge."