Little need be written by way of preface to this work. It was commenced as an index to the Nineteenth Century files of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE, and was not, as originally planned, intended for publication. The compiler, however, was advised to elaborate his scheme and to prepare, in place of a MS. index designed for private use, a work which would serve the twofold purpose of continuing the excellent Chronology begun by Mr. Matchett, and of supplying a book of reference upon a variety of subjects pertaining to Norfolk and Norwich. In Volume I. of “Norfolk Annals” are recorded the events of the two decades included in the second edition of the “Remembrancer,” but the matter has been entirely re-written, and the field of research considerably enlarged. With the lapse of time many things, too familiar and commonplace to be very fully noticed in the “Remembrancer,”—_e.g._, the coaching system, sports which are now obsolete, country celebrations and observances, &c.,—have acquired an interest which they did not present to a compiler of eighty or a hundred years ago. Some of the facts recorded in these pages may not in themselves be considered “remarkable,” but collectively they illustrate the manners and customs, the wisdom and follies, the labours and amusements, of Norfolk people in the century just closed, and, it is hoped, show to what extent the county and city have progressed morally and socially during the last hundred years. In one respect “Norfolk Annals” is less pretentious than its antecessor—it gives no topographical and statistical information of the kind published in the “Norfolk and Norwich Remembrancer”; in another sense it is more pretentious—it contains an index, which will add to its usefulness as a book of reference. The writer is indebted to the Chairman (Sir Charles Gilman) and the Directors of the NORFOLK CHRONICLE CO., Limited, for permitting him to make use of the files of that newspaper, from which exclusively the following pages have been compiled. CORRIGENDA. {0} Page 128, last line, _for_ “present” _read_ “presented.” „ 138, line 9, _for_ “Hawkes” _read_ “Hankes.” „ 166, line 2, _for_ “Henry” _read_ “Hurry.” „ 187, line 8, _for_ “Miller” _read_ “Milles.” „ 216, first line of last paragraph _for_ “Norfolk” _read_ “Norwich.” NORFOLK ANNALS. VOLUME I. 1801–1850. [NOTE.—_Marginal dates distinguished by an asterisk are dates of publication_, _not of occurrence_.] 1801. JANUARY.