2.--The funeral took place at Scole of Ann Chapman, aged 92. "Her head
was placed contrary to the usual way, agreeably to her desire, which she
had made known to the sexton. She was 47 years old when she married, and
her husband only 17. She had 18 children, 13 sons and five daughters,
all of whom arrived to the age of maturity. Five of the sons served in
the Army. This remarkable woman seldom took more than two or three
hours' sleep of the twenty-four. She could see to thread the finest
needle, and she retained her faculties to the latest period of her
existence."
6.--At a ploughing match at Roughton, John Colman, aged 92, beat all
competitors, and was awarded the prize.
13.--Married, at St. Cuthbert's, Thetford, Mr. Bussey, schoolmaster, aged
29, to Mrs. Judith Millen, aged 78. "A party of heroines attended the
happy couple, and performed their melodious chorus upon saucepans and
kettles, and to complete the band a watchman's rattle was added."
14.--Beard, the guard of the Red Rover coach, "made an attempt" to play
Crack ("The Turnpike Gate"), at Lynn Theatre. "The best advice we can
give him is to stick to his own stage in future. His comic singing,
however, was good."
20.--Three troops of the 7th Hussars, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Keane,
marched into Norwich from Birmingham.
21.--This day being appointed by Royal proclamation for fasting and
humiliation, the Mayor and Corporation of Norwich attended service at the
Cathedral, and collections were made at the doors for charitable uses.
Services were held at the parish churches, and alms were given for the
poor. The day was similarly observed at Yarmouth.
23.--At the Lent Assizes at Thetford (held there for the last time),
before Mr. Baron Vaughan, the libel action, Hunter _v._ Platten, was
tried by a special jury. Defendant was steward to Sir Thomas Hare, and
sent to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE and "Norwich Mercury," for publication, a
paragraph in which he described the plaintiff as "a person who has been
for many years a notorious game buyer and a disgrace to the name of
gentleman." The CHRONICLE modified the expressions contained in the
paragraph; the "Mercury" published it as sent. Witnesses for the defence
proved that they had seen 15 or 20 head of game on the plaintiff's
premises at one time, and that he had stated "he would buy game as long
as money would purchase it, as the gentry round that part of the country
were mean humbugs." The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff, damages
one farthing, and costs.
24.--The 1st Royal Dragoons marched from Norwich for Canterbury.
--*"Died lately at Loddon, aged 86, Thomas Reynolds. He presented to the
inhabitants and caused to be erected, at his sole expense, in 1821, a
finely-toned organ by which the church of Loddon is ornamented."
26.--Mr. T. P. Cooke made his first appearance at Norwich Theatre, in the
character of Martin Heywood ("The Rent Day"). His other impersonations
included William ("Black-eyed Susan"), Long Tom Coffin ("The Pilot"), the
Demon ("The Fate of Frankinstein"), Sir Roderick Dhu ("Lady of the
Lake"), and _poses plastique_.
30.--A jury empanelled to try a civil action at the Lent Assizes at
Thetford had a remarkable experience. The trial commenced at four
o'clock in the afternoon of the 30th, and terminated at eight o'clock on
the evening of the 31st, when the jury retired to consider their verdict.
They were locked up all night, and did not find a verdict until 11
o'clock on the morning of April 1st. The case came before the Court of
King's Bench on April 19th, when application was made for a new trial, on
the ground that refreshments had been given to one of the jurors!
31.--The thanks of the Norwich Court of Mayoralty were unanimously voted
to Lieut.-Col. Somerset and officers of the 1st Royal Dragoons, "for the
highly satisfactory manner in which they had conducted themselves whale
stationed in the city, and for aiding in the suppression of riotous and
tumultuous assemblies," and to the non-commissioned officers and privates
"for the way in which they had discharged their duty as connected with
the peace of the city."