Henceforth politics almost disappear, and the remainder of the narrative must be confined to matters of purely local interest, which may be very briefly chronicled. From 1696 to 1698, a mint was established here, and coined about a quarter of a million of money. In 1732 the Market and Charing crosses were taken down; in 1731 the St. George’s Company—incorporated 1416, and the principal of the city guilds—resigned their charters to the corporation. In 1761 a coach was started between Norwich and London, to run the distance in twenty hours, it having hitherto taken two days in summer and three in winter. An inundation in the following year, flooded nearly 300 houses. In 1771 the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital was founded, William Fellowes, Esq., of Shotesham, laying the first stone. In 1776 an act was obtained for making a turnpike to Thetford. In 1785 the first balloon ascent seen in the city took place, Major Money being the adventurous aeronaut. In 1791 the barracks were erected, at a cost of £20,000. In 1824 the first Musical Festival was held, and was conducted by Sir George Smart; its chief promoter was Mr. Edward Taylor, now Gresham Professor. The same year the City Gaol was built, in lieu of an old building on the site of the Public Library—the Shirehall is of about the same date; the Museum was founded in 1825, and in 1828 the Corn Exchange was erected. In 1835, June 16, the last guild-day celebration took place, 800 ladies and gentlemen dining in St. Andrew’s Hall; the late Mr. T. O. Springfield was, in the following January, elected the first mayor under the Municipal Reform Act. In 1837 Dr. Stanley was appointed bishop; this beloved prelate expired in 1849, about two years after the death of the equally beloved and philanthropic Joseph John Gurney. In 1844 the Yarmouth railway was opened, in the following year the Norfolk, and in 1846 the Ipswich and Colchester line. In 1854, the mayor, (then Mr. Samuel Bignold) was knighted by her Majesty, on presenting an address from the Corporation, on the war with Russia. In 1857 the Free Library was opened, and the first stone was also laid of the New Workhouse. Having thus brought down the political history of the city to the present time, we propose to offer a review of the origin and progress of the manufactures of Norwich, on which its prosperity has so materially depended, and indeed still depends.