A Concise History and Directory of the City of Norwich for 1811

, steward, two sheriffs, twenty-four aldermen, of which the mayor is one, sixty common councilmen, a town clerk, chamberlain, sword bearer and other officers.

In 1556, the extent of Norwich was ascertained, by which it appears to be 14 miles in circumference. Norwich first sent members to parliament in 1264. In 1403, four citizens were summoned to parliament, but as they were paid by the citizens 3 pounds for their attendance, they petitioned sending only two to save expence. The city at present sends two who are chosen by the freeholders and freemen, some of whom are so by inheritance, some by servitude, and others by purchase--the sheriffs for the time being, are the returning officers.

Till within a few years, the population of Norwich had been increasing, viz. from the year 1693 to 1786, as will appear by the annexed parochial list; but this is owing principally to strangers resorting to Norwich as a manufacturing place, for by comparing, the births with the deaths within that perio