8.--The Norfolk Yeomanry Cavalry commenced eight days' permanent duty at
Cromer.
9.*--"During the last week as many as 18 seaborne vessels, _via_
Lowestoft, many of them of considerable burden, have been lying at
Foundry Bridge, Norwich, laden with coke, coals, and other materials, for
delivery at the railway station. This proves how excellent and how
practical was the plan of our late fellow-citizen, Mr. Crisp Brown, and
must cause universal regret that it then failed."
18.--An inquest was opened at Happisburgh by Mr. Pilgrim, one of the
County Coroners, upon the bodies of Jonathan Balls, his wife, and four
grandchildren, who were believed to have been poisoned. The bodies had
been exhumed, and were placed in a tent erected in the churchyard; peace
officers were sworn to prevent the incensed villagers from rushing into
the tent. Several other bodies were disinterred, and in nearly every
instance traces of arsenic were found. At the adjourned inquiry some
curious facts were elicited. Suspicion pointed to Balls as having
destroyed his wife and grandchildren, and then poisoned himself. His
conduct years previously had been suspicious, children having died
suddenly while at his house. What number of persons had been thus
destroyed it was impossible to ascertain. The jury found that, in the
majority of the cases, death resulted from the effects of poison, but how
it was administered there was no evidence to show.
26.--The bells of St. Peter Mancroft, Norwich, were rung on the reception
of the news of the birth, on the previous day, of a Princess (Princess
Helena Augusta Victoria).
31.--Died at Kimberley Hall, in his 76th year, the Right Hon. John Baron
Wodehouse. He was born January 11th, 1771, and married November 18th,
1796, Charlotte Laura, only child and heiress of Mr. John Norris, of
Witton Park. He succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father in
1834. He was made Lord Lieutenant of the county and Vice-Admiral of the
coast in the room of Lord Suffield in 1821, and he had also served as
Colonel of the East Norfolk Militia, and was Steward of Norwich
Cathedral. His lordship was succeeded in his title and estates by his
grandson, John Gurdon Wodehouse, son of Henry Wodehouse and of Anne, only
daughter of Mr. T. T. Gurdon. The deceased nobleman was a staunch
Conservative. "He was of commanding appearance, both in personal figure
and dignity of deportment. During the contest for the representation of
Norfolk in 1806 it was remarked with perfect truth that three finer men
or more perfect gentlemen than Mr. Windham, Mr. Coke, and Col. Wodehouse
never presented themselves together as candidates for the electoral
suffrages of a great county."