1.--Madame Celeste and Mr. Webster commenced an engagement at Norwich
Theatre. One of the features of the entertainment was the dancing of "le
Polka." This dance, which was introduced for the first time in Norwich,
was described as "a mixture of the waltz and the cracovienne, and
extremely pretty when danced well." All the local dancing masters
advertised it, and it gave fresh life and animation to the ball rooms.
"Nothing was more wearisome," it was said, "than the eternal first set of
quadrilles, and comparatively few joined in the waltz; in the polka we
have a dance full of life, elegant in its figures, and with the
additional charm of being accompanied by music of the most attractive
character." At the Norwich Sessions Ball, on Sept. 16th, it was a great
attraction; Mr. Frank Noverre gave a "polka ball" at the Assembly Rooms
on December 2nd; and at Miss Bidwell's ball, at the same place, on
December 5th, "these ladies danced the polka in character, giving a good
delineation of Madame Celeste and Mr. Webster."
--A sculling match took place between Messrs. Corby and Wigham, from the
New Cut, Whitlingham, to Mutford Lock and back, a distance of 60 miles,
for 25 pounds a side. Corby, the winner, rowed the distance in 10 hrs.
21 mins., the whole of the return journey being against a strong wind and
tide. Wigham gave up at Buckenham.
2.--At the Norfolk Assizes, before Mr. Justice Williams, William Frost,
aged 35, was indicted for having, on April 8th, at Whitwell, murdered his
four children, whose ages ranged from five years to ten weeks, by
striking them on the head with a hammer. Mr. W. P. Nichols, Mr. G. W. W.
Firth, and Mr. Crosse testified to the insanity of the prisoner, against
whom a verdict of not guilty was returned, and he was ordered to be
confined in the Criminal Lunatic Asylum, St. George's Fields, London.
3.*--"About 60 cwt. of tea and coffee have been brought to Norwich by the
Yarmouth and Norwich Railway Company, for Messrs. Wolton and Co., of
London Street. We should not be surprised if that practice become more
general in busy weeks, particularly when the wind is contrary for the
favourable transit of the wherries."
--At the Norfolk and Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Justice Alderson, the
action, Cory _v._ the Yarmouth and Norwich Railway Company, was heard.
It was an action sent down from the Vice-Chancellor's Court, in which the
plaintiff sought to restrain the defendants from carrying passengers from
their railway terminus across the Bure or Yare to Great Yarmouth, on the
ground that the right of the plaintiff as proprietor of the ancient ferry
and of the suspension bridge which supplied its place, was thereby
infringed. At the suggestion of the Judge, an agreement was arrived at
between the parties. (_See_ May 2nd, 1845.)
7.--Intelligence was received at Norwich of the birth of a Prince (Prince
Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh). The bells of St. Peter
Mancroft were rung, and the Town Council in due course sent to the Queen
a congratulatory address.
9.--Great festivities took place at Ellingham, near Bungay, in
celebration of the return of Col. Smith from active service in India.
12.--The opera of "The Bohemian Girl" was performed at Norwich Theatre
for the first time. The principals included Miss Rainforth, Mr.
Harrison, and Mr. Stretton, of Drury Lane Theatre; Mr. Gilbeigh, Mr.
Duval, &c. The numerical strength of the orchestra was more than trebled
by the services rendered by professional and amateur instrumentalists of
the city. The conductor was Mr. C. F. Hall, one of the leaders of the
Drury Lane orchestra "Norma" was also produced. The week's performances
received very inadequate support.
19.--Killed at Sekerran, Borneo, aged 39, George Steward, youngest son of
Mr. Timothy Steward, of Great Yarmouth. He was in the East India
Company's service, and volunteered to accompany Capt. Keppel, R.N., in
his expedition against the pirates of Borneo. While ascending a river in
a native boat he was surrounded by the enemy and slain.
--Died at Bracondale, Norwich, aged 78, Mr. Roger Kitson, a schoolmaster,
who sixty years previously succeeded Mr. Massingham at the then
well-known academy in St. Andrew's Broad Street. He had a talent for
poetical composition, and belonged to the Confraternity of United Friars
and other literary societies.
21.--The Norwich Mechanics' Institute was dissolved. On October 27th its
surplus funds, amounting to 120 pounds, were handed over to a new
society, known as the Athenaeum, in which the Rev. A. Bath Power, Mr. J.
J. Gurney, and other gentlemen were interested. The society met at rooms
in the Market Place.
24.*--"The operation of Lord Brougham's Act, for the abolition of
imprisonment for debt, has had the effect of clearing the Norwich Gaol of
all the debtors except one. Its operation will be very disadvantageous
to the prisoners sentenced by the Court of Conscience or Requests, as
they had laid a part of their time, and a very few days more would have
exempted them from future liability, whereas now they go out subject to
other proceedings and executions against their goods."
28.--A shocking accident occurred at Dereham Theatre, to Mr. Dillon, one
of the performers. He had just dressed for his part, and approaching too
near to a lighted candle, the inflammable material which he wore
immediately caught fire, and he was enveloped in flames. He ran about
the stage in terror, and some of the audience, rushing forward,
endeavoured to extinguish the fire, but they did not succeed until he had
been seriously injured.
31.--Among Norwich improvements completed during the preceding twelve
months were mentioned at this date the building of Victoria Street, the
erection of new houses in place of old and unsightly ones near St. Giles'
Gates, and the widening of the street in that locality; the
reconstruction of the Wensum Street and Tombland Corner; and the
construction of the embankment between Foundry Bridge and Carrow Bridge.