2.--A gale of unusual violence began in the night, and prevailed during
the whole of the 3rd. There was hardly a street in Norwich in which the
roofs of houses escaped damage. Many vessels were lost off the Norfolk
coast. One hundred and forty-four men and boys were drowned, and 68
widows and 105 children were left destitute. A public subscription, to
which the Queen contributed 100, was opened at Yarmouth to relieve their
distress.
9.--A meeting of weavers was held at Norwich, to consider the rates of
payment for work. It was stated that in 1846 a list of prices was agreed
to by the manufacturers and operatives for all fabrics then made. These
prices had, with few exceptions, been maintained in Norwich, but a great
deal of work was sent into the country, where it was done at the reduced
rate of 5.5d. per dozen skeins, or considerably more than 50 per cent.
difference. The weavers resolved that any departure from the list of
prices would be alike injurious to employers and employed, and a
deputation was appointed to wait upon the manufacturers to enforce this
view.
--Mr. David Fisher gave, at Noverre's Rooms, Norwich, his entertainment,
entitled, "Facts and Fancies," with which he had achieved great success
during the London season. Mr. Fisher was known in Norwich not only as an
excellent actor and accomplished musician, but as a vocalist of much
taste.
21.--At the Norwich Assizes, before Mr. Baron Martin, James Margatroyed
Hubbard (24), described as a general dealer, and son of a Norwich brewer,
was indicted for forging a bill of exchange for 45, and sentenced to 20
years' penal servitude.
25.--The weather was very mild. A picotee bloom and rose were gathered
in a garden at Norwich.
26.--Mr. H. J. Byron was the author of the pantomime produced at Norwich
Theatre. It was entitled, "Ali Baba, or the Thirty-nine Thieves."
--A revolting performance was given at one of the shows at the Norwich
Christmas Fair. "A man and woman, said to be Kaffirs, actually fed upon
live rats, in the presence of continually succeeding audiences." The
details, as published in the newspaper, are too horrible to be quoted.
The Mayor, on being informed of the proceedings, prohibited the
exhibition, after which raw flesh was substituted for live rats. At
Walsingham, a few days afterwards, the show was visited by many hundreds
of country folk; at Wells the police expelled the performers from the
town.
1864.