population of the town was nearly double that of the

In the reign of William III. there resided at Ipswich, a family which, from the number of peculiarities belonging to it, was distinguished by the name of the "odd family." Every event remarkably good or bad happened to this family on an odd day of the month, and every member had something odd in his or her person, manner, and behaviour; the very letters in their Christian names always happened to be an odd number-the husband's name was Peter, and the wife's, Rabah ; they had seven children, all boys, viz. Solomon, Roger, James, Matthew, Jonas, David, and Ezekiel; the husband had but one leg, his wife but one arm, Solomon was born blind of one eye, and Roger lost his sight by accident, James had his left ear bit off by a boy in a quarrel, and Matthew was born with only three fingers on his right hand, Jonas had a stump foot, and David was hump-backed; -all these, except the latter, were remarkably short, while Ezekiel was six feet one inch high at the age of nineteen; -the stump-footed Jonas and the hump-backed David got wives of fortune, but no girls in the borough would listen to the addresses of their brothers; the husband's hair was as black as jet, and the wife's remarkably white, yet every one of the children's hair was red;-the husband was killed by accidentally falling into a deep pit, in the year 1701, and his wife refusing all kind of sustenance, died five days after him, and they were buried in one grave;-in the year 1703, Ezekiel enlisted as a grenadier, and although he was afterwards wounded in twenty-three places, he recovered;-Roger, James, Matthew, Jonas, and David, it appears by the church registers, died in different places, and were buried on the same day, in the year 1713, and Solomon and Ezekiel were drowned together in crossing the Thames, in the year 1723. Such a collection of odd circumstances never before occurred in one family. This account is taken from an odd corner of an old newspaper, and we cannot any further vouch for its authenticity; there can be no doubt but that it is altogether odd, and we think it would be still more odd if it were true.

September 8th, 1696, an order was made for the better regulation of the market; and that no person should expose any eatables for sale, except in the market.

1697. Ordered, that an address to His Majesty be sealed with the town seal, and be sent to the burgesses to be presented to the king, they desiring my Lord Cornwallis, high steward, to introduce them. A long address on the blessings of the peace derived from His Majesty's great wisdom and prowess in arms, dated 9th of December 1697, was presented.

1698. It is ordered that the intended shire-house shall be erected and built on the ground behind the hospital; and that a committee shall be formed for treating and agreeing about the building, and for procuring subscriptions, and using all other proper ways and means for the erecting the said shire-house. Sir Samuel Barnardiston, who was member for the borough at this time, contributed largely to the subscription. But we cannot find that the assizes were ever held in this building except once, in the year 1740, when the town of Bury suffered dreadfully from the small-pox.

1699. Several persons were admitted to their freedom this year, on the payment of £5.

1702. A committee was formed to view the reed-ground by Stoke bridge, to see how it could be improved to the best advantage of the town.

It is agreed that an act of parliament shall be applied for, for the better regulating and employing the poor, and for granting other advantages to the town.

A loyal and dutiful address was presented to the queen, on her accession to the throne.

Richard Phillips was fined £100 for neglecting his duty as a portman, but was afterwards excused on account of the service he had since done the town.

In 1703, a number of persons were, at different times, fined and sued for neglecting or refusing to act in their office of portmen.

It is agreed, that to-morrow being the 5th of November, shall be observed in such manner as Mr. Bailiffs shall direct; and the charge thereof to be paid by the chamberlain.

It was agreed that Mr. Bailiff Gravenor is desired, at his going to London, to attend the lord high steward and the burgesses of the town, and to pray their favour in endeavouring to obtain the present assizes to be held in this town. They were not held here more than three or four years, and there is no account of the cause of their being removed to Bury, but we suppose it was owing to the interest felt by the lord lieutenant, the duke of Grafton, for that town.

A committee was formed to regulate the fees for goods brought or carried out of the town-house or this port. Which town-house meant the custom-house, for it was, formerly, so called. A long string of orders was issued for the better regulation of the corn and coal-meters and porters, and to prevent the frauds that had been practised. Henry Sparrowe was fined £20, and discharged from his office of portman, for non-attendance and neglect of duty.

On Richard Phillips and Cooper Gravenor going out of office this year, it was agreed that they should have such security given them as their counsel shall advise, to indemnify them and their officers in all differences between them and the town.

Many gentlemen in the town and neighbourhood were, about this time, presented with their freedom; and the disputes in the corporation were carried to great lengths.

At a great court, the 9th of June, 1704, it was agreed that Mr. Richard Puplett had committed several breaches and misdemeanours in his office of town clerk; and it appearing to the court that he was never duly chosen into the said office; and on a poll being demanded, to determine whether he should be discharged or not, a majority of forty-two appearing against him, he was discharged accordingly, and Mr. Edmund Harvey elected town-clerk in his room. A long letter was read and ordered to be sent to Charles Whittaker, esq., recorder, desiring him to shew cause why he had neglected to hold the session of Oyer and Terminer, as he ought to have done; also to shew cause why he kept and retained in his custody, certain charters, books, and deeds, belonging to the town; and why he had taken part with suitors and delinquents, and had given his opinion against, and had condemned the conduct of the bailiffs in the discharge of their duty, and had refused to give his advice when asked by the bailiffs and portmen; and, lastly, to shew cause why he should not be discharged from his office of recorder of the said town of Ipswich; and on the 8th of September following, his answer not being deemed satisfactory, it was put to the vote, and decided by a majority of 69, that he should be discharged from his office of recorder. He was discharged accordingly, and Leicester Martin, esq. elected in his place.

On the 13th of November, 1704, it was ordered and agreed, that an address be presented to his Majesty by the high steward of this town, " on the remarkable successes of the forces under the command of Charles, Duke of Marlborough and Sir George Rooke."

On the 22nd day of December, it was ordered that a nightly watch should be established from this time to the 2nd day of March, and that four persons of the east ward, and two persons of the other three wards shall be obliged to watch in person, in their turn; and that every one refusing to watch in person, shall forfeit one shilling.

It appeared that Richard Puplett and Charles Whittaker had each of them obtained a writ of mandamus against the corporation, to be restored to their offices.

It was agreed that Mr. William Betts should be paid what may be considered reasonably due to him for defending the town upon the mandamus brought against them by Richard Puplett and Charles Whittaker.

On the 7th of February, 1704, five persons were admitted to their freedom, on paying £5 each, which seemed to be now a common custom.

On the 12th day of June, at this court, it is ordered and agreed, that steps shall be taken to apply to the Earl of

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