1.--Died at his house at Charlton, Kent, aged 86, Professor Peter Barlow,
F.R.S. He was born in the parish of St. Simon, Norwich, in October,
1776. Related to one of the leading manufacturing families in the city,
the Columbines, his early life was passed in their warehouse. He
continued there about three years, and during that period acquired, by
his own industry, a considerable knowledge of algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, navigation, and French. Subsequently he obtained a
situation in a school in Essex, and afterwards proceeded to Shipdham,
when, the master dying, he succeeded to the school, and married a
Shipdham lady. He commenced a regular correspondence with the "Ladies'
Diary," then under the management of Dr. Hutton, professor of mathematics
at Woolwich, whose attention was favourably attracted by the
contributions furnished by Mr. Barlow. Dr. Hutton recommended him as
candidate, in 1801, for the post of additional master at the Royal
Military Academy, and he was successful. In 1811 he published his first
work, "The Theory of Numbers," in 1813, "The Mathematical Dictionary,"
and in the same year his "Mathematical Tables." In 1817 his work, "The
Strength of Materials," was published. In 1819 he turned his attention
to magnetic experiments, in which he was very successful in developing
the laws of action and in the application of those laws to the correction
of a long-standing error in navigation. For this discovery he received
several honorary and pecuniary rewards. His "Essay on Magnetic
Attraction" was published in 1819.
25.--The new Poor Removal Act came into force. It materially altered the
law of settlement, and made new regulations as to the manner in which
parishes contributed their share to the common fund charges of the
unions.
31.--An accident occurred at a circus building at St. Stephen's Gates,
Norwich, hired by Mace and King, the pugilists, for the purposes of a
benefit performance. The rows of seats elevated one above the other and
forming the pit were densely crowded with spectators, whose weight broke
the frail supports, with the result that the centre of the pit fall with
its load of human beings. Many were severely bruised and shaken, and one
man, suffering from a broken leg, was removed to the Hospital.