3.--Mr. R. Rising, of Costessey, rode his horse for a wager over nine
consecutive single hurdles set up in the centre of a field. "This was
performed in excellent style, coming back also over the same ground, and
not refusing one. The spectators were rather astonished to see Mr.
Rising repeat the feat with cap in hand. The judge of the bet, one of
the first riders in the Norfolk Hunt, asked permission to ride the horse
himself, saying he had ridden many good horses, but never one that would
take a single hurdle. Upon Mr. Rising consenting, he rode the same
round, thus making the animal in all leap 54 single hurdles."
11.--Died, in his 82nd year, Mr. John Venning, of Surrey House, Norwich.
A native of Totnos, Devonshire, he spent several years in Russia, as the
representative of a firm of merchants. He became a member of the church
at which the Rev. R. Knill officiated in St. Petersburg, and devoted his
time and means to improving the wretched condition of the neglected and
depraved populace of the Russian metropolis. He founded a school on the
Lancasterian system for poor Russian children, a free school for the
children of foreigners, a refuge for the reception and care of the
helpless and destitute, a lunatic asylum in which the best modes of
treatment were introduced, the Litofsky prison, constructed to admit of
the classification and separation of prisoners; and he remodelled the
great hospital for the reception of invalids. Mr. Venning gained the
esteem of the Emperors Alexander and Nicholas, and the hearty
co-operation of the Empress Dowager, as well as of other members of the
Imperial family. Through his instrumentality all exiles starting for
Siberia were furnished with copies of the Scriptures. When the
destructive inundation of November, 1824, overwhelmed the city with the
waters of the Neva, the Grand Duke Michael sent General Politica with
20,000 roubles to Mr. Venning to distribute among the suffering populace.
"Throughout his long life Mr. Venning was a conscientious Dissenter--an
Independent--but he saw without regret his nearest and dearest relations
staunch members of the Church of England." He married a daughter of Mr.
Meybohm, of St. Petersburg, by whom he was survived.
22.--St. John's church, Yarmouth, erected at the estimated cost of 1,700
pounds, was consecrated by the Bishop of Norwich.
24.--Died, in his 77th year, Mr. Thomas Osborn Springfield, one of the
magistrates of Norwich, and head of the firm of Springfield, Son, and
Nephew, of St. Mary's, Norwich, and Coleman Street, London. Born in a
comparatively humble sphere, he rose from the position of a small
tradesman to a large silk merchant, "and during his career won and lost
several fortunes, in consequence of the fluctuations of the silk
markets." His business career ended prosperously. He took an active
part in all local matters, from the election of a parish beadle to that
of a member of Parliament, ranging himself on the side called Radical.
As he himself avowed, whenever he engaged in a contest he went in to win,
and many of his victories were, doubtless, most costly. In 1827 he was
elected one of the Sheriffs, and in 1829 Mayor of the city. After the
passing of the Municipal Reform Act, he was, in 1836, selected to be the
first Chief Magistrate under the new order of things. With a majority of
one only of elected councillors, the Liberals were able to add sixteen
aldermen to their number. This power they then exercised to the fullest
extent, selecting men of their own party only, a one-sided system which
was pursued without a break to the day of Mr. Springfield's death. In
1852 he was solicited by requisition to become a candidate for the
representation of the city, and if he had been inclined to accede there
is little doubt that he would have secured his election. In private life
Mr. Springfield exhibited many good traits; he was never unamiable nor
ungenerous, and there were not a few persons in the city who could trace
their first advancement in life to his assistance.