3.--A severe gale, with thunder, lightning, and hailstorms, occurred.
4.--A correspondent writing to the NORFOLK CHRONICLE on this date
announced the discovery, in the old Library Room at St. Andrew's Hall,
Norwich, of an antique chest containing the remains of a valuable
collection of Roman and English coins. John Kirkpatrick, in his will,
dated July, 1727, made the following bequest: "I give to the Mayor,
Sheriffs, citizens and commonalty of Norwich all my ancient MSS. and all
my medals and antient coins of silver and brass, to be deposited in the
library of the new Hall" (the Guildhall). The coins found at St.
Andrew's Hall formed the remnant of that collection.
7.--The thermometer fell to zero at Norwich. The cold was so intense
that fowls under cover were frozen to death. Great distress prevailed,
and meetings were held at Norwich, Yarmouth, and Lynn, to adopt measures
for the relief of the poor.
9.--Died in the Cathedral Precincts, Norwich, in his 77th year, the Rev.
Peter Hansell, one of the Minor Canons of the Cathedral, an office which
he had held for upwards of fifty-four years. For more than half a
century he was minister of St. John de Sepulchre. His remains were
interred, on the 15th, in the south transept of the Cathedral.
--Died, aged 52, Samuel Thurston, for more than 30 years a ringer at St.
Peter Mancroft, Norwich. "As a practical ringer and theorist combined,
the art has lost one of its brightest ornaments. The date tablets
erected in different parishes throughout the city and county record his
fame as a ringer."
16.--All the marshes and low-lying lands in the vicinity of Norwich were
flooded upon the breaking up of the frost. Owing to the heavy state of
the roads, the mail and stage coaches were delayed several hours beyond
their usual time. The weather was remarkably warm and brilliant in the
last week of the month.