14.--The first touring circus in Norfolk at which performances were given
under canvas was that belonging to Batty, "sole proprietor of Astley's
Royal Amphitheatre," who on this date erected at Lynn Mart a tent 65 ft.
in height and 300 ft. in circumference. It was the same tent placed on
the site of the Royal Exchange when Prince Albert laid the first stone of
the new building, and on that occasion it afforded accommodation for
1,400 persons. In the autumn of the same year Richard Sands' American
circus toured the county, giving one performance only in a "spacious
pavilion" at each town visited. A procession of "twenty-five caparisoned
horses" was a feature of the show. After this date the circus touring
system became general during the summer and autumn months.
22.--Died at Caen, Normandy, aged 76, the Rev. T. D'Eterville, "a
well-known and respected inhabitant of Norwich for upwards of forty
years, who retired a few months ago to end his days in his native
country." [Borrow's "preceptor in the French and Italian tongues."]
23.--The coach from London to Norwich, driven by Thomas Wiggins, ran into
a brewer's dray at Tasburgh, during a thick fog and was overturned. Mr.
Scott, of Newton Maid's Head, one of the outside passengers, was jammed
between the coach and a tree, which had to be cut down to extricate him,
Wiggins was thrown head first off the box seat and severely injured, and
the guard, Thomas, was dashed against a tree stump and killed outright,
"his head being completely split open." It was not until January 22nd,
1844, that Wiggins was able to resume his duties. It was then stated:
"So highly is this excellent whip esteemed along the line of road, that
at the several inns where the coach stopped to change horses it appeared
as if the landlords had determined to celebrate the circumstance by
making it a general gala day."
26.--Died at Cheltenham, aged 60, Major-General Sir John Thomas Jones,
Bart., K.C.B., of Cranmer Hall. He served in the Royal Engineers during
the campaign in Calabria, and was present at the Battle of Maida and the
attack on Scylla Castle; in the Peninsular campaign he was in the retreat
to Corunna; he accompanied the expedition to Walcheren and was present at
the reduction of Flushing, served in the campaigns of 1810, 1811, and
1812 in the Peninsula, received the medal for Badajos, and was shot
through the ankle joint at the siege of Burgos, in October, 1812. He
entered the service as second-lieutenant on August 30th, 1798, and
retired with the rank of major-general on January 10th, 1837.
27.--Yarmouth Orange Fair was held. "Like the generality of fairs, it
has fallen sadly out of repute, and but for the immense quantity of fruit
from which it takes its name anyone might have passed the Market Place
without noticing it."