March 18th. Dr. Henry Bathurst (one of the prebendaries of Durham) was elected bishop of Norwich by the dean and chapter. He soon made himself universally beloved by the clergy and the citizens. Professor Taylor gave the following account of the late and also of the newly appointed bishop:— “In 1805, Dr. Bathurst succeeded Dr. Sutton as bishop of Norwich. The latter, who had been translated to the See of Canterbury, was a man of polished manners, extravagant habits, and courtier-like address. He was too polite to quarrel with anybody and too prudent to provoke controversy. He neither felt nor affected to feel any horror of Unitarians. He invited them to his table, and at the request of the mayor, he preached a charity sermon at St. George’s Colegate, knowing that my father had been asked and had consented to write the hymns.” “Dr. Bathurst removed from Durham to Norwich, and as he was a stranger in his new residence, never having taken any prominent part as a public man, little expectation was excited as to his future conduct. He was known to owe his elevation to his relation, Lord Bathurst; and it was generally taken for granted that his views on public affairs were similar to those of the administration of which that noble lord was a member. Curiosity led me to the Cathedral to hear the new bishop’s primary charge, and I soon found the spirit it breathed to resemble the benevolence that beamed from his countenance.” “What the bishop preached he also practised. He never shrunk from appearing to be what he really was, nor while he received a dissenter in his study with politeness would he pass him unnoticed in the street. He was to be seen walking arm-in-arm with persons, of all persuasions, whom he respected, in the streets of Norwich. He was not afraid of shaking ‘brother Madge,’ as he called him, by the hand, nor of welcoming Unitarians to his table. What he was as a member of the house of peers, on all occasions in which the great principles of religious liberty were concerned, is well known. I have only here to speak of his conduct as a resident in Norwich.” Sept 3rd. The committee of the court of guardians appointed to examine the poor rates of the city and hamlets, for the purpose of obtaining a more equal assessment, made their report, in which they stated that an increase of £16,000 stock and £1800 rent, calculating on the half rental only, might be made, and recommended a general survey and new valuation to be taken, in consequence of the great alteration which had taken place in property since 1786, when the previous survey was taken.