7.--Mr. Sinclair, of Drury Lane and Covent Garden, appeared for a short
season, commencing on this date, in a round of operatic parts at Norwich
Theatre, after an absence of seventeen years.
9.--The Norwich Town Council adopted, on the motion of Mr. Barwell, a
memorial to the Board of Trade in favour of the establishment of a school
of design.
11.--A Committee of the House of Commons commenced the hearing of the
petition of Isaac Wiseman and others against the return of the Hon.
Robert Campbell Scarlett and the Marquis of Douro, as members for the
city of Norwich. The principal allegations were bribery and corruption
and the improper keeping of the poll. On May 12th, after an examination
of the poll-books, the Committee passed the following resolution:--"That
Arthur Wellesley, commonly called the Marquis of Douro, is duly elected;
that Robert Campbell Scarlett is not duly elected; and that Benjamin
Smith is duly elected, and ought to have been returned." The Orange and
Purple Club, at a meeting held at the Norfolk Hotel, on May 30th, under
the presidency of Mr. W. J. Utten Browne, voted an address to Mr.
Scarlett, acknowledging the services he had rendered to the Conservative
cause.
18.--At a meeting of the Norwich Town Council, Mr. Brightwell moved that
a petition be presented to the House of Commons in favour of a national
system of education. The proposed petition stated that "every individual
in the country in early life, without regard to sect or party, should be
afforded the opportunity of obtaining the elements of useful knowledge
and an acquaintance with the sacred Scriptures." Mr. Barwell seconded.
Mr. Seppings moved, as an amendment, the insertion of the clause: "Your
petitioners pray that you will not sanction any schemes of education
which do not include with the daily reading of the Holy Scriptures a full
measure of religious instruction based upon the Word of God, nor any
general system of national education which does not secure the careful
assistance and superintendence of the National Church." The amendment
was negatived, and the original motion adopted.
24.--At Norwich Theatre was performed for the first time a drama
entitled, "The Siege of Lynn." Another new piece was produced on May
31st, called "Pickwick, or the Sayings and Doings of Sam Weller."
26.--John Folker, a mariner, who had seen much active service, died at
Lynn at the age of 86. "He was the only survivor of the many Lynn seamen
who fought in the memorable battle of April 12th, 1782, when the British
Fleet, under the command of Sir George Bridges Rodney (afterwards Lord
Rodney), engaged and defeated the French Fleet, under Count de Grasse, in
the West Indies. Folker steered Admiral Rodney's flagship through the
whole of that eventful conflict. He was buried in St. Margaret's
churchyard, and was carried to the grave by six seamen on a bier over
which was the Union flag, supported by six naval warriors who had served
on board the British Fleet."