3.--In the Court of Exchequer, before Lord Abinger and a special jury, an
information was heard against three persons named Phillips, of Swanton
Abbot, for the recovery of penalties for a violation of the Excise laws
by means of illicit distillation. The jury returned a verdict of guilty.
It was stated that defendants had rendered themselves liable to penalties
amounting to 12,000 pounds, but the Crown would be satisfied with a
verdict for one penalty of 200 pounds, which, trebled, amounted to 600
pounds. Judgment was then entered for the last-named sum.
--Permission was given by the authorities of the Norfolk and Norwich
Hospital for the formation of a hospital museum, on the understanding
that there should be no alienation of the funds of the institution. On
October 19th it was reported to the Governors that the museum had been
completed, and an inscription on vellum was voted to Mr. William
Dalrymple, in grateful acknowledgment of his donation of his entire
collection in anatomy and pathology, and to Mr. J. G. Crosse for his
valuable contributions. (_See_ September 10th, 1845.)
7.--John Franklin, "known by the name of Bill Downey, the celebrated
Southtown pedestrian," for a wager of 10 pounds walked from the Duke's
Head Inn, the Quay, Yarmouth, to the Shirehall, Norwich, and back, in
eleven and a half hours.
8.--A meeting was held at North Walsham, for the purpose of forming a
Protection Association against the attacks of the Anti-Corn Law League.
Similar associations were formed in other parts of the county, and about
fifty petitions were sent to Parliament, praying that no alteration be
made in the state of the law.
10.*--"A society for insurance against damages by hail has been
established in Norwich, an influential body of gentlemen having accepted
the office of directors, and numerous parties have intimated their
intention to take advantage of this institution."
13.--A new historical play, entitled, "Zopyrus, the Hero of Persia," by
Mr. William Cooper, barrister, of Norwich, was produced for the first
time at Norwich, Theatre.
15.--A singular person, named Jemima Cock, died at Long Stratton. "She
was 78 years of age, and was known for many years as a letter-carrier of
the Post Office, and although no scholar, was never known to make a
mistake in that department. She once travelled the country as a seller
of rakes and other implements. She wore top boots, kindly given to her
by gentlemen of the village, and dressed her head with a hat like Mrs.
Twankey's in the play of the 'Ladies' Club,' and long before, and at the
time of her demise was, by order of the parish, made governess of the
clink. She leaves no relative or friend to mourn her loss, save one, and
those placed under her kind attention in prison-like confinement, and the
poor weary barefooted traveller who wandered thither for shelter (and
repose) from the fury of the pelting storm."
20.--It was announced in the "London Gazette" that Sir E. L. Bulwer,
Bart., in compliance with a direction contained in the will of his late
mother, Elizabeth Barbara Bulwer Lytton, of Knebworth, would thereafter
use the surname of Lytton in addition to and after that of Bulwer, and
also bear the arms of Lytton quarterly in the first quarter with his own
family arms.
26.--An information was laid before the Docking magistrates by Robert
Bullock, a common informer, against Mr. William Shearman, of Burnham,
under 52 Geo. III., cap. 93, for having, on November 17th, 1843,
"assisted Mr. Charles Edward Overman and 20 other persons in the taking
of a hare by means of two greyhounds, the said act of assisting not being
done in the company or presence and for the use of any person who had
then duly obtained a certificate in his own right and who then and there
used his own dogs for the taking of the said hare," whereby he rendered
himself liable to a penalty of 20 pounds. Evidence was adduced showing
that the dogs which ran at the West Burnham Coursing Meeting, where the
alleged offence took place, belonged to qualified persons. The Bench
recorded a conviction, against which the defendant appealed, at the
Norfolk Quarter Sessions, held at Norwich on March 13th. The Court
quashed the conviction. Twenty other cases depended upon the result of
this appeal.
--Died in London, aged 73, Mr. John Wright. He was a native of Norwich,
and going early in life to the Metropolis, where he had the
superintendence of Hookham's Reading Rooms, in Old Bond Street, he became
acquainted with many of the leading political and literary characters of
the day, by whose support he entered into business as a publisher, in
Piccadilly. He was the particular friend of Gifford, the poet, and the
_rencontre_ between that individual and Peter Pindar took place at
Wright's house. He was afterwards connected with Cobbett in the
publication of the "Weekly Register," but this terminated in a lawsuit,
in which the latter gained little credit. Literary pursuits of various
kinds occupied Mr. Wright's attention for the remainder of his life, and
his assistance was much sought after by publishers and others, in
affording which and in attendance at the House of Commons he generally
spent his time. He was supposed to have had the superintendence and
correction of "Hansard's Debates."
28.--Died at Ingolville, near Havre, Mr. John Morse, formerly of
Sprowston. He was a magistrate and deputy lieutenant of the county, and
served the office of High Sheriff in 1807. His remains were interred at
Sprowston, on March 12th.