2.--Batty's Royal Circus commenced a season in "the most elegant,
spacious, and substantial building ever erected in Norwich." Its site
was on the Castle Meadow. One of the principal productions of the season
was the spectacle, "The Council of Clermont," in which trained lions and
leopards were introduced.
7.--At a meeting of the owners and occupiers of land in the Hundred of
Henstead, held at the Bell Inn, Orford Hill, Norwich, under the
presidency of Mr. Robert Fellowes, it was determined to present a
petition to Parliament against any alteration in the Corn Laws. The
question was discussed at a meeting of the Norwich Town Council on March
24th, on a motion by Mr. Marshall that a petition be presented to
Parliament "to repeal the present laws affecting the importation of
foreign corn, and to substitute such a duty as shall secure to the
agriculturists of the country present protection, with the prospect of a
progressive diminution of that duty as well as of others which form our
commercial code." The motion was negatived. Mr. Bell, of the "Farmers'
Journal," delivered a lecture in Norwich Corn Hall at the close of the
market on March 28th, and argued that the theory of Free Trade was false
in the principle on which it professed to be founded. On the 11th a
public discussion took place at St. Andrew's Hall between Mr. Bell and
Mr. Ackland, one of the lecturers of the Manchester Anti-Corn Law League.
Many meetings were held, for and against repeal, in different parts of
the county.
--*"Died, lately, Mr. Robin Wade, of Ditchingham, aged 102."
--*"Mr. William Bagge, M.P. for West Norfolk, has lately purchased Col.
Say's estate at Crimplesham, for 35,000 pounds, including the timber."
14.--At the Norfolk Sheriff's Court at Norwich, a jury was empanelled to
assess damages in a case of _crim. con._, in which the plaintiff was Mr.
Edward William Trafford, and the defendant Mr. Ellis, a lieutenant in the
9th Royal Lancers stationed at Norwich in 1839. The Attorney-General
(Sir John Campbell) was one of the counsel for the plaintiff, Mr.
Thesiger was leading counsel for defendant, and Mrs. Opie was a witness
in the case. Mr. N. Palmer, barrister, was deputed by the High Sheriff
to preside. The damages were laid at 5,000 pounds, and the special jury,
composed of county gentlemen, assessed them at 500 pounds. On August 4th
the Royal assent was given to Mr. and Mrs. Trafford's Divorce Bill.
20.--At a meeting of the county magistrates, held at the Shirehall,
Norwich, Mr. Henry Champion Partridge and Mr. Isaac Jermy, Recorder of
Norwich, were elected Chairmen of the Norfolk Quarter Sessions.
29.--Died in St. Giles' Street, Norwich, aged 47, Mr. Christopher
Edwards, formerly a solicitor. "The deceased was better known by the
appellation Cutty Edwards, and was possessed of considerable talent and
natural wit. No man experienced more the vicissitudes of fortune. He
once had a comfortable property, but latterly felt the bitter pangs of
want."
30.--Norman's School, erected in the parish of St. Paul, Norwich, by the
trustees of Alderman Norman, who died May 10th, 1724, "he bequeathing his
property upon trust for ever for the purpose of boarding, clothing, and
educating the sons of his own and his first wife's relations," was
opened. The "claimants," with their children, marched in procession from
Chapel Field to the bowling-green of the New Inn, St. Augustine's Gates,
where the boys were regaled with buns. A party numbering 500 was
entertained to tea in the school-room, when Mr. Samuel Daynes proposed
"The Memory of Alderman Norman." On July 28th the "claimants" presented
a silver cup to Mr. Daynes, "as a memorial of their esteem for his
indefatigable exertions in obtaining and establishing the claims of those
who could prove descent from their munificent benefactor."
31.--The Judges of Assize, Sir James Parke and the Hon. Sir Edward Hall
Alderson, arrived at Norwich. Their lodgings on this occasion were at
St. Catherine's Hill.