December 23rd. At a special meeting of the council, Isaac Preston, Esq., (afterwards Jermy) was elected recorder of the city in place of R. Alderson, Esq., who had resigned.
1831. January 12th. At a meeting held in the Old Library Room, St. Andrews Hall, a petition to parliament was adopted, praying for the entire abolition of slavery in the British colonies.
February 1st. At a special assembly of the corporation, Fitzroy Kelly, Esq., was unanimously elected steward of that body, and he held that office till the passing of the Municipal Reform Act.
March 22nd. A petition was sent from the city against the disfranchisement of the freemen by the proposed Reform Bill. The signatures were limited to freemen, denizens, and apprentices.
March. Cleansing Week ward elections. Conisford ward, J. Skipper, 270; R. Merry, 265; B. Bunting, 237, (nominees); T. Edwards, 169; J. Youngs, 167; W. G. Edwards, 167. Mancroft ward, no opposition, J. Bennett, H. Newton, and B. Boardman (nominees). Wymer ward, no opposition, J. Culley, J. Winter, W. J. U. Browne (nominees). Northern ward, S. S. Beare, 344; R. Shaw, 337; W. Enfield, 347 (nominees); T. Grimmer, 222; E. Browne, 220; W. Fromow, 220.
This year the Lent assizes were held in Norwich by adjournment from Thetford.
May 1st. J. H. Yallop, Esq., was elected mayor for the second time, and he gave a grand dinner in St. Andrew’s Hall.
In this month a census of the population was taken, showing 27,910 males, 33,437 females; total 61,347. Inhabited houses, 13,283; uninhabited houses, 1,082; total 14,365.
June 20th. Samuel Bignold, Esq., was elected an alderman without opposition in the room of John Patteson, Esq., who had resigned.
August 22nd. The new act of the court of guardians received the royal assent, and came into operation. This act has since been superseded by another.
September 12th. The election of guardians took place under the new act.
1832. January 11th. At a court of mayoralty it was resolved to present a memorial to the Home Secretary and the Lord Chancellor, praying that Norwich might be included in the ensuing circuit of the judges. A committee was appointed to prepare the memorial. A special court was convened on the 14th to receive the report, and a memorial was adopted which was presented by the members for the city. The petition was granted, and the council passed a vote of thanks to the Lord Chancellor.