8.*—“We congratulate the county on the election of a Norfolk man, Dr. Hyde Wollaston, to the president’s chair of the Royal Society. It is a curious circumstance that the presidents of three very distinguished and scientific bodies, and two of the principal officers of two others are natives of this county, namely, Dr. Wollaston, president of the Royal Society; Sir James Edward Smith, president of the Linnæan Society; Dr. Astley Cooper, president of the Medical Chirurgical Society; Mr. Richard Taylor, secretary of the Linnæan Society; and Mr. John Taylor, treasurer of the Geological Society.” 17.—The great prize fight between Painter and Oliver, commemorated by Borrow in “Lavengro,” took place near North Walsham. The stakes were £100 a side, and the amateurs of Norwich gave £20 towards the training expenses of Oliver, on condition that he fought within reasonable distance of Norwich. The battle was contested upon a platform. A staging about 100 yards in length was erected for the accommodation of spectators, for whom, also, sixty waggons were formed in a circle round the outer ring; £50 was collected at the gate, and the sums charged for admission to the seats on the staging produced £80. The greatest order prevailed among the 20,000 persons present, the ring being kept by Shelton, Randall, Turner, Scroggins, Eales, Josh Hudson, Harmer, Purcell, and other noted pugilists. Oliver was seconded by Cribb and Belcher, and Painter by Spring (his former opponent) and Paul. The odds were five and a half to four on Painter. Twelve rounds were fought, and Painter won. His colours (yellow) were hoisted upon a waggon, and he was everywhere greeted with loud cheering. Many of the London contingent lost heavily over the fight.—A second battle took place between Sampson, the Birmingham youth, and Martin, the baker (the Master of the Rolls). The former was seconded by Turner and Paul, and the latter by Cribb and Spring. The odds were six to four on Martin, who won after 29 rounds, fought in 38 minutes. It was during this fight that the thunderstorm, so vividly described by Borrow, occurred. At a dinner given at North Walsham the same evening Painter announced that this was his last appearance in the prize ring. Other “festivities” took place the same week. On the 19th there was a “turn up” between Josh Hudson and Belasco on Gurney’s bowling-green, Norwich, the former of whom was seconded by Spring and a Norwich amateur, and his opponent by Martin. Thirty-three rounds were fought, in the course of which Hudson dislocated his shoulder and lost. The sum of £10 was collected round the ring. On Saturday, 22nd, a benefit was given for Painter in the large room at the Swan Inn, at which most of the above-named pugilists appeared. “The amateurs could not separate without giving a chance to West Country Dick, who was matched against George Redgrave.” The fight was decided in the room.