6.--Mr. William Dalrymple was presented with a valuable silver salver by
the Mayor, Sheriffs, citizens, and commonalty of Norwich, in
acknowledgment of the care and skill he had displayed in the performance
of his duties as surgeon to the Great Hospital and Doughty's Hospital
during the period of 28 years.
9.--Died at St. Michael at Coslany, Norwich, Ann, widow of Leonard
Atkinson. "She was born in this parish December 24th, 1728, and had
scarcely quitted it more than a week during the space of nearly 105
years. Free from wrinkles and decrepitude, she possessed her faculties
unclouded till within a few months of her decease."
13.--The 50th anniversary of the Norwich Public Library was celebrated by
a dinner at the White Swan, presided over by Dr. England, president of
the institution.
15.--A special assembly of the Norwich Corporation was held, to take into
consideration the application of Mr. George Long and Mr. John Buckle, two
of the Commissioners named in the Municipal Commission, for the
production of charters and other muniments of the Corporation. A
resolution was passed stating that the Corporation had no wish to
withhold the information required, "but they protested against the
Commission as illegal and unconstitutional, and denied the right of the
Commissioners to make any inquiries." At the opening of the Commission,
on November 25th, the Sheriffs (Mr. W. J. Utten Browne and Mr. Edward
Steward) declined to attend or to allow any of their officers to give
evidence relative to the constitution of the Sheriffs Court, on the
ground that "a Commission issued by virtue of the Royal prerogative alone
was a process unknown to the law of England, and eminently hostile to
public liberty." The inquiry lasted twenty-two days, and concluded on
December 19th.
18.--Ducrow advertised the representation of a Spanish bull-fight at his
Norwich circus. "To prevent any misconception on the part of visitors to
the arena, and at the same time to add to the surprising nature of the
performance, ladies and others are informed that the bull is impersonated
by one of Mr. Ducrow's horses, tutored by him for the purpose, enveloped
in an elastic skin, and so managed as to deceive even the keenest eye."
22.--Died at Guanajuato, Mexico, Lieutenant John Thomas Borrow, of the
West Norfolk Militia, eldest son of Captain Borrow, of Norwich.
28.--Mr. George Long, Municipal Commissioner, held an inquiry into the
affairs of the Corporation of Castle Rising. Mr. F. Lane, of Lynn, the
Recorder, stated that he had no charter nor papers of any kind to
produce. The Corporation consisted of a Recorder, Mayor, one alderman,
and a serjeant-at-mace. The Mayor and alderman served in turn the office
of Chief Magistrate. There were about 50 burgage tenants, and the
Corporation property was about 20 pounds a year, arising from land, and
with the money the Mayor gave each year two dinners to the leet. The
Corporation had no debts, no prison, and but one offence had been
committed in the borough for a number of years.