5.--The Bishop of Norwich confirmed 500 persons at Diss. His lordship,
in the course of this visitation, confirmed 10,464 young persons.
11.--Mr. Carter, "the celebrated African Lion King," appeared at Norwich
Theatre "with his troupe of acting animals, consisting of lions, tigers,
leopards, and panthers, in a new drama, entitled, 'The Lion of the
Desert.'" Mr. Carter took the part of "Abdallah, a dumb Arab." "It
requires no little nerve on the part of the actors and actresses to play
to such rough customers, and much credit is due to the members of the
Norwich Company who took a share in the performance."
17.--At Norwich, R. Coates, "the great London pedestrian," walked 50
miles in twelve hours; on the 18th ran 50 miles, on the 19th ran 40 miles
backwards, on the 20th ran a pair of wheels 22 miles, rowed a boat 10
miles, jumped 300 flights of hurdles placed ten yards apart, and threw
100 somersaults. "All these events on the several days were performed in
the space of twelve hours." At the Green Hill Gardens, Norwich, Coates
undertook to walk, on June 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, fifty miles in twelve hours
each day, "half backwards and half forwards, and accomplished this
extraordinary feat the last day with ten minutes to spare." At the same
gardens, on June 30th, he commenced walking 1,000 half miles in 1,000
successive hours. "He has to walk a half mile every succeeding half hour
day and night, but he has the privilege of walking two half miles
together, the last and first part of the hour." Coates was credited with
the due accomplishment of the feat. On August 10th a man named Charles
Thurlow began a walk of 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours at Richmond Hill
Gardens, Norwich, and completed what was said to have been a genuine
performance on September 21st. Another pedestrian named Henry Raven,
started to walk the same distance in the same time on the Lord Nelson
ground, Lakenham, on September 29th, and completed his undertaking on
November 10th.
--The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry, under the command of Major Loftus,
marched into Norwich, headed by their brass band, and on the following
day proceeded to Yarmouth for a week's permanent duty.
18.--Sir Jacob Astley, of Melton Constable, Norfolk, and of Seaton
Delaval, Northumberland, took his seat in the House of Peers as Baron
Hastings. The termination of the long-pending abeyance of the Barony of
Hastings in favour of Sir Jacob was celebrated with great festivities at
Foulsham and Holt. "According to the date of his barony, the 18th of
Edward I., 1290, next below Lord de Roos, Baron Hastings is the most
ancient baron of the United Kingdom."
20.--Mr. G. V. Brooke commenced a six nights' engagement at Norwich
Theatre.