Читать книгу Norfolk Annals (Vol. 1&2) - Charles Mackie - Страница 39

6.*—“The Rev. Mr. Beloe, formerly of this city, has been appointed librarian to the British Museum.”

9.—A brig was launched from Cattermoul’s yard at Thorpe, near Norwich, in the presence of many hundreds of spectators. “She went off the stocks in very fine style, but when she was towing ashore for the company on board to get off her, everyone endeavouring to get ashore first, the weight of such a body of people, added to those on the rigging, overset her. Nearly one hundred men, women, and children were plunged into the water, and messengers were at once sent to Norwich for medical assistance.” It is somewhat remarkable that no lives were lost.

20.—The case of Mr. Cony, a ward in Chancery, came before the Court of Chancery. He was only 17 years of age, and had married Elizabeth Franklin, the daughter of an innkeeper at Downham Market, in which district he possessed a large property. The marriage took place by licence in London. The Chancellor annulled the marriage, ordering the cessation of all further intercourse between the parties, at the same time intimating that, if his orders were not strictly complied with, “he should take such steps as would prevent the possibility of their meeting.”

25.—Mr. George Wyer, of Downham Market, “carried a 20 stone sack of flour one mile, leading through the town of Watton, for a wager of 230 guineas, which he performed with great ease in 18 minutes, to the astonishment of a vast number of spectators.”

Active preparations commenced for the defence of the county in view of possible invasion. On the 8th several officers and non-commissioned officers of the 47th Regiment of Foot arrived in Norwich to receive the balloted men and substitutes of the Army of Reserve, the training of whom commenced next day in Chapel Field. A county meeting was held at the Shirehall, Norwich, on the 10th, when resolutions were passed, assuring his Majesty of the readiness of the county to take defensive measures. A meeting of the inhabitants of Norwich was held at the Guildhall on the 16th, at which a subscription was opened for raising a regiment of Volunteer Infantry. Clerks attended in the porch of the Guildhall to enroll the names of the Volunteers, and the city flag was displayed from the window of the Town Clerk’s office. On the following day 702 men had offered themselves, and by Saturday, the 20th, the number had increased to 1,085, and the public subscription exceeded £3,000, of which £500 was given by the Corporation. On the 26th the regiment was formed, 800 strong, under Lieut.-Col. Harvey (commanding), Lieut.-Col. Plumptre, and Major Sigismund Trafford. The public subscription then amounted to £6,400. A Rifle Corps was also formed, with Mr. R. M. Bacon as captain. At Yarmouth, 500 persons enrolled themselves, under the command of Lieut.-Col. Wm. Gould. On the 27th, it was announced that the number of Volunteers in the county enabled the Lord Lieutenant to suspend the compulsory clauses of the Defence Act. The total number was about 7,300. The Government purchased some properties in Norwich to be converted into temporary barracks for the reception of 800 infantry.