1.--Another instance of the holding in church of a public meeting for
secular purposes occurred on this date. The inhabitants of Stoke Holy
Cross assembled at the parish church to discuss the propriety of
establishing a benefit society. Mr. T. Brightwell presided over the
meeting.
14.--Died, aged 65, at Long Island, United States, Mr. John Hunt,
engraver, formerly of Norwich. He was the author of a work on British
ornithology.
19.--A severe thunderstorm occurred at Norwich. "The wind blew a perfect
hurricane. Rushing in a straight line for Catton, it caught the high
wall in St. Clement's Square, and blew down about 30 yards of solid
brickwork." The sails of Catton mill were blown off, trees were torn up
by the roots, and the river suddenly rose above the banks in places. At
Harleston a marsh mill was overturned and houses were unroofed.
21.--Died at the Euston Hotel, London, Mr. Fred. Yates, aged 45, manager
of the Adelphi Theatre. He married, in 1823, Miss F. Brunton,
granddaughter of Mr. John Brunton, of Norwich.
30.--Died at Longford Hall, Derbyshire, aged 88, Thomas William Coke,
Earl of Leicester. His lordship was born on May 6th, 1753, and was
returned for Norfolk in 1776. With one brief intermission, he continued
to represent the county until 1832. He was created Earl of Leicester in
1837. He married, in his twenty-third year, his cousin Jane, youngest
daughter of Mr. James Dutton, who died June 2nd, 1800, leaving no male
issue. After remaining twenty-two years a widower, he married, February
26th, 1822, Lady Anne Amelia Keppel, third daughter of the Earl of
Albemarle, her ladyship being then 19 and Mr. Coke 70 years of age. The
issue of the marriage were Thomas William, born in 1822; Edward Keppel,
1824; Henry Coke, 1827; Wenman Clarence Walpole, 1828; and Margaret
Sophia, who, at the Earl's death was only ten years of age. The remains
of the deceased nobleman arrived at Swaffham on July 10th, and were
placed in the large room at the Crown Inn. From four o'clock in the
afternoon until nine in the evening the body lay in state, and immense
numbers of persons passed through the apartment. At nine o'clock on the
morning of the 11th, muffled peals were rung, and at eleven o'clock the
funeral procession started for Tittleshall. It passed through
Castle-acre, the Lexhams, and Litcham. "At every spot where the main
road crossed the cross roads were carriages in waiting to fall into the
procession, which, marching in close order, was two miles in length." At
Tittleshall church, where the interment took place, there was a great
gathering of the personal friends and tenantry of the deceased earl.