22.—At the Norfolk Assizes, held at Thetford, before Mr. Justice Grose and a special jury, the case, Astley _v._ Harwood, was tried. This was an action for defamation. It was alleged that the defendant, at a ball held on July 6th, 1802, the day after the Norwich election, mounted a table, and, addressing the company, called the plaintiff a liar, a coward, an assassin, a scoundrel, and a murderer, “for he had murdered his father.” The jury found a verdict for the plaintiff, and assessed the damages at £2,000. On June 11th the Court of King’s Bench granted a new trial, on the ground that the impression the words made on the hearers was matter for aggravation or mitigation of damages. The new trial took place at Norwich Assizes in August, 1803, when a special jury confirmed the former verdict, and awarded Sir Jacob Astley £2,000 damages. On December 3rd, it was announced that the case had been removed to the Court of Exchequer on writ of error. In June, 1804, the judges in the Exchequer Chamber unanimously confirmed the former verdict, and gave judgment, with costs, against Col. Harwood. Finally, on July 19th, 1804, the case was taken to the House of Lords, when the Lord Chancellor delivered his opinion in favour of Sir Jacob Astley, which was confirmed by the Lords, who ordered Col. Harwood to pay Sir Jacob £100 costs, occasioned by the writ of error. The portrait of Capt. John Harvey, of the Norwich Light Horse Volunteers, painted by Opie at the request of the corps, was this month placed in St. Andrew’s Hall. APRIL. 9.—Henry Ford was executed at Thetford, for stealing a silver watch, coat, and jacket from the person of Thomas Aylmer, of Pentney. 16.—A county meeting held at the Shirehall, Norwich, when an address of congratulation to his Majesty, on has escape “from the late traitorous conspiracy,” was moved by the Hon. Col. Wodehouse, seconded by Sir Roger Kerrison, and unanimously adopted. 26.—A rowing match took place between two crews, manning respectively two well-known Norwich boats, the Lion and the Dove. It was the only contest of the kind that had been witnessed in Norwich for nearly a quarter of a century. The course was from Carrow Abbey “to a signal post standing in Whitlingham reach, and return to Carrow, a distance of four miles.” In consequence of the narrowness of the stream, “the boats started about 300 yards distant from each other, the first having to go to the place whence the last set off.” The Lion won by about 80 yards in 38 minutes 40 seconds. (The number of oars not mentioned.) 27.—A public dispensary was established in Norwich. “The committee propose to recommend to the general meeting an extension of the original plan, and to connect with it inoculation for the cow-pox.” MAY. 3.—Mr. William Firth was elected Steward of the Corporation of Norwich. —The Norwich Loyal Military Association was re-established, and 300 men entered to serve therein. 5.—An impressment took place at Yarmouth.