14.--A young man named William Bunting appeared before the Norwich
magistrates, charged with using threatening language to Mr. R. N. Bacon,
of the "Norwich Mercury." The defendant, a groom in the service of Capt.
Ives, rode a horse named Newman Nogs at Long Stratton steeplechases on
December 9th. The animal was injured, and had to be destroyed. The
complainant, in his report in the "Mercury," insinuated that the rider
"had too much nog in his head"; and Bunting, taking offence, called at
the office, and threatened to horsewhip Mr. Bacon. It was alleged that,
during the interview, Capt. Ives rode backwards and forwards in front of
the office. Defendant was ordered to find sureties, and keep the peace.
26.--Navigation between Norwich and Yarmouth was obstructed by the frozen
state of the river.
28.--A cricket match was played on the ice on Scoulton Mere, between two
selected elevens from the parish of Hingham. "Mr. W. Waller's side went
in first, and after some fine play, and still finer falls, were out for
66 runs. Mr. W. Roberts' side then took the bat, and scored 170 runs in
the most slashing style, hitting the ball quite off the ice in all
directions. Some of the players wore skaits, and others their stump
shoes, &c., to prevent falling."
30.--At a meeting held at the East India and Colonial Rooms, Pall Mall,
under the presidency of Mr. W. L. W. Chute, M.P., the Norfolk, Suffolk,
and Cambridge Railway Company was formed, for the purpose of constructing
a line to proceed from Yarmouth to Bishop's Stortford, by way of Norwich,
Wymondham, Attleborough, Thetford, Newmarket and Cambridge. The
principal promoter was Mr. J. W. Rastrick, and the adoption of the scheme
was agreed to on the motion of the Marquis of Douro, seconded by Mr.
Samuel Bignold. The estimated cost of the line was two millions, and of
locomotives and carriages, 200,000 pounds.
31.--The weather "was warmer and more brilliant than the last days of May
are sometimes found to be." In the previous week the thermometer stood
at eleven degrees below freezing point.
1841.