9.--Mr. Richard Coller was elected Mayor, and Mr. William Cadge appointed
Sheriff of Norwich.
13.--The Prince of Wales arrived at Morton Hall, on a visit to Lord
Walsingham.
20.--The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Norwich, with the object of
furthering an important scheme promoted by the governing body of the
Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for enlarging the institution. Their Royal
Highnesses, who travelled by special train from Wolferton, were received
at Thorpe Station by the Mayor, Sheriff, and Deputy-Mayor, and presented
with an illuminated address, after which they drove to St. Andrew's Hall,
where a distinguished audience had assembled, under the presidency of the
Earl of Leicester, Lord Lieutenant of the county. The High Sheriff (Sir
William ffolkes, Bart.) moved, "That the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
fully deserves the confidence and support of the county of Norfolk and
city of Norwich, on account of its services, extended over a hundred
years, to the sick and suffering poor." The Lord Bishop seconded the
motion, which was adopted. His Royal Highness then moved, "That it is
desirable, both for the accommodation of the patients and the improvement
of the sanitary condition of the Hospital, that the proposed alterations
and additions be carried out, and that for this purpose an application be
made to the county and city to raise the sum of 35,000 for a building and
sustentation fund." Votes of thanks were accorded to their Royal
Highnesses for attending the meeting, and to Lord Leicester for
presiding. Lord Leicester, who had previously offered to subscribe
5,000, on condition that the remaining 30,000 of the 35,000 required were
raised within a stipulated time, now announced that he would give 13,000
to be invested for the future sustentation of the Hospital. At the
conclusion of the proceedings the Prince and Princess were entertained at
luncheon at the Bishop's Palace, where a distinguished company had been
invited to meet them; and in the afternoon his Royal Highness attended a
Masonic gathering at the Drill Hall, and installed Lord Suffield as
Provincial Grand Master. Later their Royal Highnesses proceeded by rail
to Gunton, to spend a few days with Lord and Lady Suffield; and in the
evening a concert was given at St. Andrew's Hall, at which Madame Albani
was the principal performer. (_See_ February 3rd, 1877.)
--A man named William Nelson was severely injured in St. Peter Mancroft
Church Alley, by the explosion of a gaspipe charged with gunpowder. He
was removed to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he died on the
following day. At the Coroner's inquest, on the 22nd, the jury returned
a verdict of manslaughter against some person or persons unknown. A
reward was offered by the Mayor for the discovery of the perpetrator of
the outrage, but no information was forthcoming.