8.--An exceedingly rare fish, the maigre (_sciaena aquila_), was captured
off Sheringham. It measured 5 ft. 2 in. in length, weighed 68.5 lbs.,
and was preserved by Mr. George Johnson, chemist, of Norwich.
9.--At a meeting of the Norwich Paving Commissioners, it was decided to
try the experiment of paving Briggs' Street with wood. It was suggested
that "pieces of fir 14 in. or 15 in. long, having been peeled, be put
down as they grow, with gravel between each."
--Mr. John Marshall was elected Mayor of Norwich, and Mr. William Storey
appointed Sheriff.
10.--On the arrival at Norwich of the intelligence of the birth of the
Prince of Wales, the Union flag was hoisted on the towers of St. Peter
Mancroft, St. Stephen, St. Giles, and of other parish churches, and the
bells of St. Peter rang rejoicing peals. On Sunday, the 14th, a special
form of thanksgiving was used at the church services; on November 16th
and December 4th the Norwich Town Council and the county magistrates
voted addresses of congratulation to the Queen and Prince Albert; and on
December 7th the Bishop of Norwich gave a dinner to the inmates of the
Workhouse. "The Queen graciously received the congratulations of the
boys of Paston Grammar School, North Walsham, and requested that an
additional week of holidays be granted to them at the ensuing Christmas
vacation, in commemoration of the happy event."
13.--On this date was published the judgment given in the Consistory
Court of Norwich, by Mr. Evans, in the suit, Loftus husband _v._ Loftus
wife. The suit was brought by the Rev. Arthur Loftus, of Fincham,
against Mary Anna Ray Loftus, for restitution of the conjugal rights of
marriage. The Court ruled that Mr. Loftus was fully entitled to
judgment, and admonished Mrs. Loftus to return to her husband.
14.--Died at Blickling Hall, the seat of the Dowager Lady Suffield, John
William Robert Kerr, Marquis and Earl of Lothian, aged 48. The funeral
of the deceased nobleman took place at Blickling church, on November
24th.
16.--Christ church, New Catton, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich,
and the sermon was preached by the Hon. and Rev. J. T. Pelham, rector of
Berghapton. "The Chartists marched in procession to the church and were
refused admission, and then commenced every possible description of
insult and injury. The Bishop and other gentlemen, on leaving the
church, were scandalously assailed by the mob; near St. Clement's church
some stones were thrown, and it was with difficulty that the crowd was
kept off. The Right Rev. prelate was escorted to the Palace, and at the
gate three cheers were given for his lordship." Eleven arrests were
made, and several convictions were recorded during the two days' hearing
at the Police Court. The ringleader, a man named Hewett, was committed
for trial at the Quarter Sessions, and on January 4th, 1842, the Recorder
(Mr. Isaac Jermy) sentenced him to two calendar months' imprisonment,
ordered him to find two sureties and keep the peace for twelve months,
and to remain in custody until such sureties were forthcoming.
17.--At the dinner of the Marham Hunt, held at the Crown Inn, Swaffham,
Mr. Henry Villebois was presented with a silver candelabrum, weighing 200
oz., in recognition of "the liberal and sporting manner in which he had
contributed to the general amusement" of the members of the Hunt.
19.--A meeting of landowners and others was held at Yarmouth, for the
purpose of considering a scheme proposed by Mr. Robert Stephenson, for
constructing a railway from Yarmouth to Norwich. Two other proposed
railways were before the public, and in both cases it was proposed to
construct bridges over the river. Mr. Stephenson's railway, first known
as the Valley Line, pursued a route which obviated the necessity of
crossing the river, but the scheme included a plan for diverting the
course of the stream at Thorpe for a distance of about 50 chains. The
scheme, which was estimated to cost 150,000 pounds, was adopted, and the
line, the first to be opened in Norfolk, was called afterwards the
Yarmouth and Norwich Railway.
24.--The celebrated Distin family gave the first of three concerts at the
Theatre Royal, Norwich.
27.*--"The memorial statue of the late venerable Bishop Bathurst, by the
far-famed hand of Chantrey, has been erected this week in Norwich
Cathedral." This was the last work of Chantrey, who died in London
shortly after his departure from Norwich. "The estimate for the monument
of Bishop Bathurst was 2,500 pounds; Chantrey took it for 1,500 pounds;
the block of Carrara marble alone must have cost him nearly 1,000
pounds."
--The Census returns were published on this date. The statistics
affecting Norwich were as follow:--Houses, inhabited, 13,889;
uninhabited, 805; building, 53; persons--males, 28,014; females, 33,832;
total, 61,846. The population of Norfolk, exclusive of Norwich, was
350,775.