1.--At Norwich Police Court, Mr. William Sidney, proprietor of the
Theatre Royal, made application for a licence for the performance of
stage plays in that building. He stated that it was fifty years since he
first performed at the Theatre, when, under the management of Mr.
Davenport, it was open all the year round, and was understood to be a
patent theatre. It was afterwards purchased by a company of which Sir
William Foster and Mr. Robberds were the chairmen. He (Mr. Sidney)
became lessee and afterwards proprietor, and purchased the shares and
freehold land. The understanding during all those years was that it was
a patent theatre and required no licence from the magistrates. The Town
Clerk had requested him to produce the patent, but neither he nor his
solicitors (Messrs. Rackham) were able to do so. Eventually a patent was
found, but to their great surprise it was granted to one Thomas Ivory for
seven months in the year only, commencing November 1st. The Town Clerk
explained to the magistrates that the attention of the Executive
Committee of the Corporation having been called to the necessity of
certain structural alterations at the Theatre, Mr. Sidney was requested
to have them carried out, and in consequence of his non-compliance the
Lord Chamberlain was communicated with, and then it appeared that no
patent had been granted to a theatre in Norwich since 1768. The
magistrates, before granting the licence, required Mr. Sidney to comply
with the demands of the Corporation, and on the 19th, it being reported
that the work was completed, his application was acceded to.
15.--The coming of age of Mr. John Cator, eldest son of Mr. Albemarle
Cator, was celebrated at Woodbastwick by a village _fete_.
18.--The Duke of Portland laid the last stone of a new dock at Lynn.
30.--The Norwich Diocesan Conference was opened at the Victoria Hall,
Norwich, under the presidency of the Lord Bishop. The proceedings
concluded on the 31st.