5.--At the annual meeting of the Norfolk Agricultural Association, held
at the Swan Hotel, Norwich, Mr. Clare Sewell Read moved that the annual
show for 1861 be held at East Dereham, instead of at Swaffham. This
effort to abolish the system of holding the exhibitions alternately at
Norwich and Swaffham was defeated by 19 votes to 15.
6.--The frost continued with unusual intensity, and on this day
snowstorms, which covered the ground to the depth of twelve inches,
occurred. On the 10th a public meeting was held at Norwich, under the
presidency of the Mayor (Mr. W. J. Utten Browne), at which a fund was
inaugurated to relieve the distresses of the poor. In a few days the sum
of 4,139 pounds 12s. 11d. was subscribed. The river was frozen from
Norwich to Yarmouth, and on the 16th a large party of ladies and
gentlemen assembled on the ice on Breydon and "skated" quadrilles. The
frost continued for more than five weeks, during the whole of which
period the ground was covered with snow.
11.--Walsingham Quarter Sessions were held for the last time. Sir
Willoughby Jones, who presided, informed the Grand Jury that the Sessions
would be removed part to Swaffham and part to Norwich, "on account of the
expenses being so great in proportion to the number of prisoners for
trial." On March lst the Bridewell ceased to be used as a house of
correction, and the prisoners were removed to Norwich Castle.
16.--Died, aged 85, Mr. Kinnebrook, for many years a proprietor of the
"Norwich Mercury."
18.--Died, in his 60th year, Mr. Thomas Lound, for 35 years confidential
clerk at King Street Old Brewery, Norwich. "As an artist, but
principally as a painter in water-colours, he had maintained a high
reputation for many years. The local river and rural scenery afforded
materials for a large proportion of his works. He occasionally painted
street scenes and monastic ruins, and of late years he made excursions
into Wales and Yorkshire, bringing home with him a vast variety of
subjects." In addition to his own collection, he left many water-colour
drawings by Bright, Thirtle, Cox, and others, some of them of
considerable value.
26.--At Norwich Castle, James Blomfield Rush, aged 30, "eldest son of
_the_ Rush," was committed for trial on the charge of breaking into the
dwelling-house of Mr. Abraham Cannell, farmer, Cringleford, on the night
of January 12th. At the Norfolk Assizes, on March 27th, before Chief
Baron Pollock, the prisoner was acquitted. At subsequent dates he was
twice acquitted for housebreaking, but at the Norfolk Quarter Sessions on
March 11th, 1862, was sentenced to four years' penal servitude for
breaking into a house at North Tuddenham.