The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-02-02 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1858.

HONESTE AUDA X.

Tits Royal nuptials have elicited during the past
week the liveliest sentiments of loyalty through-
out the length and breadth of the United
Kingdom. Since the marriage of our gracious
QUEEN, which for 18 years has exercised so
beneficial an influence upon English society, no
event has excited so much enthusiasm in the
country at large. The feelings of the nation
have been strikingly identified with the occa-
sion, and the heartiest wishes for the happiness
of the PRINCESS have found an echo in every
honest English heart. There is, happily, every
reason to believe that the marriage is one of
affection, and the country necessarily sees in
that fact the strongest pledge of the realization
of their hopes. In a political point of view the
alliance is one of a highly promising nature, for
whatever tends to unite more strongly in the
bonds of friendship two great countries, is an
additional and most welcome guarantee for the
stability of the world's peace, the progress of
civilization, and constitutional freedom. The
Royal marriage 13 therefore invested with infi-
nitely greater importance than as a matter of
momentary interest and dazzling ceremony; and
there can be no fear that the memory of the
illustrious member of our Royal house will
fade away as the result of her departure from
among us, and her permanent residence in a
foreign country. The youthful PRINCE and
PRINCESS embark this day at Gravesend for
their future home, and they will quit our shores
confirmed in the pleasing assurance of the
reality of the respect and affection entertained
for them by a loyal and generous people. It is
gratifying to know that the whole of Prussia is
enthusiastically interested in the marriage, and
that the eldest daughter of England will be
received with the most cordial affection in the
land of her adoption.
A telegraphic despatch in anticipation of the
Bombay mail of to-morrow reached London
on Friday afternoon. Sir JAMES OUTRAN, at
Alumbagh, attacked and defeated the enemy on
the 22nd December, capturing four guns, with
trifling loss. Sir COLIN CAMPBELL was still at
Cawnpore, but was shortly expected to move
westward with a powerful force, for the purpose
of driving the four bodies of rebels towards Luck-
now, so as to enclose them in a circle, and make
Oude the battle-field in which the mutiny is to
be crushed by force of arms. General ROBERTS
has been appointed to command a field force in
Rajpootana, which is assembling at Deese, and
which is to march on Nusseerabad. From
China we learn that the French joined us in the
blockade of the Canton river on the 10th
December, and that on the 16th, the day the
mail left, the Island of Ronan was occupied by
two battalions of British Marines and 150
French sailors. The attack on Canton was to
be made simultaneously by the forces of the two
nations, and there is no doubt that the next mail
will bring the news of the capture of the city.

The excitement attendant upon the diabolical
attempt to assassinate the EMPEROR of the
FRENCH is still far from subsiding. We gather
from the French papers that the universal
horror which the atrocious act excited has been
followed by the most striking demonstrations
for the EMPEROR and EMPRESS. The people,
the National Guard, the army, every class of
the nation, have joined the great bodies of the
State in the same expression of feeling. It may
be said that all Europe shared it. Every
Sovereign has sent a distinguished representative
to congratulate the EMPEROR and the EMPRESS;
the cities most important by their commerce and
their population have not been behindhand ;
and, that nothing might be wanting to this
unanimous manifestation, the press of every
country has pronounced the same judgment
upon the crime and upon its consequences. The
escape of their MAJESTIES is, indeed, little
short of the miraculous, and the result seems to
have been everywhere to strengthen the feeling
of attachment to the NAPOLEON dynasty. In
an excitable people like the French, it is not
easy to repress an impolitic and unwholesome
exuberance of feeling on any occasion by which
they are likely to be aroused. Accordingly, the
most unguarded and violent language is employed
against this country by, a portion of the French
press, and by certain French functionaries and
officers, on account of the asylum offered by us
to political refugees. In some of these instances
of bitterness and complaint it may not be very
easy to determine whether a blind and rooted
hatred to this country, or an excess of zealous
loyalty, predominates in the minds of these
angry officials. To a great extent pure malig-
nity and unmitigated passion are pretty clearly
to be recognized. There are undoubted frag-
ments of French society still in existence who
would be transported with joy at the prospect
of a war to the knife with this country, and
such as these naturally feel the strongest incen-
tives to action when listening to the representa-
tions about England having become an atrocious
"nest of assassins." It happens fortu-
nately, indeed, that these are but a small
minority; and if their prejudices were not ine-
radicable, the sentiments of the EMPEROR himself
and of the French ambassador in England would
, suffice to teach them some greater degree of
prudence and consideration. The reply of the
Ambassador to the address presented through
him to the EMPEROR from the Corporation of
the city of London, congratulating the EMPEROR
on his escape, is equally conspicuous on the
score of right feeling and good sense. He not

only recognized the iiglit of an asylum offered
to political refugees in this country, but justly
tk ot it as a glory and an honour to us.
It were well if Count PERSIGNI had not, with a
change of time and circumstances, altered his
tone and mode of reasoning tiptou this genie ques-
tion, by which he has materially impaired his re-
putation both for consistency and truthfulness. In
the face of the highest attestations to the merit of
our law, the blustering complaints of irate and
inconsiderate men might be suffered to pass with
little notice. Slender, indeed, are the means
at our command to discover what refugees are
worthily and what unworthily protected by this
country. Conspiracies to murder are certainly
not permitted ; and if such plots, while hatching,
could be discovered, the guilty parties would be
punished and the impending mischief averted.
That is all that we can say about it. Neither
refugees nor any other set of men walk about
with loopholes in their cranium through which
the machinations of the brain may be discovered.
Then, the law of this country acts upon proof,
not suspicion; and every man is held to be inno-
cent until found guilty. It is at least quite as
difficult for us to discover the existence of a san-
guinary political plot, as the preliminary ar-
rangements of a burglary or a murder in any of
our beer-shops. The perpetrators of accom-
plished crime themselves, both in this and other
countries, too often elude the hands of justice;
how much more difficult must it be to trace out
and develops the secret, collusive cogitations of
traitors, taking place in isolated instances, and
with the precaution and secrecy of practised
adept& in villainous intrigues and political assas-
sinations! How many unfortunately-obnoxious
men are quietly put out of the way by the hand
of the assassin in Italy and Spain, and in France
itself, nothing more being heard of them but
their chance recognition at the dead-house by
some inquiring relative or friend? In the case
before us it is the life of an Emperor that has
been threatened, and the horror of the deed
pervades all classes, and is felt in every civilized
country. The conspirators are Italian, but they
seem at some time or other to have made this
country their temporary home, and this unlucky
incident brings down upon free England—a
country not stained with the many vices, the
proneness to assassination especially, which dis-
grace the continent—the murderous attempt
brings down upon us the bitterest invective and
a reckless impugning of our law. It seems quite
clear that no alteration can be made in our code
at all commensurate with vagaries like these;
and with whatever degree of abhorrence and
execration all England will have viewed the late
attempt upon the Emperor's life, it cannot be
permitted that any despotic dictum can be oper-
ative here, or that any foreign power, on the
strength of any fortuitous circumstance whatso-
ever, should override the salutary and well-
known laws of this country.

THE regular Parliamentary Session will com-
mence on Thursday next. As this is merely an
assembling of Parliament after an adjournment,
and not a prorogation, there will be no speech
from the Throne, and her MAJESTY will be
spared the fatigue of another State ceremonial
following upon the active participation of
Royalty in the interesting and exciting events
of last week. Politics will now begin to resume
their proper degree of attention in the dis-
cussions of the day. India, Reform, and our
Foreign Relations, will probably constitute the
staple of Parliamentary debates. Public curi-
osity, if not anxiety, is strongly directed to the
course of the Government in these important
affairs. As to Lord PALMERSTON'S intentions
about Reform, the merest conjecture is all that
can be arrived at. We have heard something
about an educational franchise ; but, as our
readers know, it suited the convenience of the
Premier to confine exclusively to the Cabinet
all the details of the proposed measure, until it
should be brought in its integrity to the light
of day on the floor of the House of Commons.
With regard to the India Bill, there is not the
same obscurity observable here. The debates of
the India House have given us some information
as to the effects of the Bill, which is intended to
lodge the supreme authority over those vast
dominions in the Crown and the Parliament,
instead of leaving that authority, as heretofore,
divided between the Government and the East
India Company. It seems to be generally ac-
knowledged that the affairs of India have been
administered by a double Government of the
most injurious kind—" a Secret Committee"
often representing the Government in great
emergencies which have confessedly owed
their worst results to this joint action. "This is,"
says the Times, "the very worst form of double
government and divided responsibility, and it is
high time it should be put an end to by a mea-
sure making the same persons responsible both
for the crime, an unnecessary war, for example,
and for its consequences." The whole question,
however, is one of gigantic proportions, and may
be expected to occupy the attention of the Legis-
lature for a considerable period. "When the
India Bill is brought in," observes the Times of
yesterday, "it will probably be found that the
changes proposed apply only to a limited portion
of the present system. The Supreme Courts,
the Civil Service, above all the Viceregal au-
thority, will be left untouched. The settle ment
of the land revenue will remain for the con-
sideration of Indian statesmen ; the balance-
sheet of income and expenditure will assuredly
not be included in the English budget. Great
principles and important details will still remain
for consideration; but there can be no worse
preparation for the discussion than a series of
preliminary quarrels respecting points on which
all parties may find that they are unexpectedly
unanimous."

DORCHESTER PITCHED CORN MARKET, Saturday.
—The supply of wheat at market to-day was ino•
derate, but the damp state of samples generally
caused the trade to rule dull at a decline of 28. per
quarter. Barley in slow demand, and to effect
sales a reduction of from is. to 2s. per quarter had
to be submitted to. Oats firm at late rates.

Tux QUEISN'S OWN DOMICTSHIRE YEOMANRY.—
The six beet shots of each troop at the recent con-
tests will meet this day (Tuesday) in Fordington
Field, and contend for several cups presented by the
officers of the troop. We understand that the din-
ner of the Melbury troop, which was postponed on
account of the lamented decease of their late colonel,
the Earl of Echester, is to take place on the 18th
instant.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Tapp, of the let Regi-
ment of Bombay European Fusileers, and brother of
W. D. Tapp, Esq., surgeon' of this town, has been
appointed by the Queen Companion of the Most
Honourable Order of the Bath.

ALTERATION OP TRAINS. —By reference to our
railway time tables for this month, it will be seen
that several alterations occur in the Great Western
Railway bill.
LONDON AND SOUTH-WESTERN DIVIDEND. The
directors of this company have resolved to recom-
mend to the proprietors at the general meeting on
the 12th instant that the dividend for the half-year
ending the 31st of December, 1857, be at the rate of
5l per cent, per annum on the capital of the com-
pany, making, with the former dividend in June
last, a rate of 5 per cent, for the year.
The half-yearly general meeting of the share-
holders of the Great Western Railway will be held
at Paddington on Friday, the 12th instant. Four of
the directors retire by rotation on the occasion.
RELIGIOUS TRACT Socurrv.—A meeting of the
Dorchester branch of this society is announced to be
held at the Townhall to night (Tuesday). The Rev.
J. P. Saffery is deputed to attend from the Parent
Society.
-

We have the pleasure to announce that another
of the pupil teachers from the Dorchester National
School, Mary Hannah Harris, daughter of Mr.
Harris, seedsman, of this town, obtained a Queen's
Scholarship at the recent examination at the Salis-
bury Training College.
The Rev. A. R. B. Wright, of Winterbourne,
Glostershire, has been licensed by the Bishop of
Salisbury, to the curacy of Downton, Wilts.

The Lord Bishop of Salisbury has liceneed the
Rev. John William Dolignon, RA., to the Curacy
of Bradford PeverelL

COUNTY BALL. —The annual county ball at the
Townhall, in connection with the Antelope Hotel,
and which was postponed in consequence of ,the
lamented decease of tb.. Pati of H.:heater, is Axed to
take plate On Tuesday next, when, no doubt, a large
iiiniber of the aristocracy of the county will attend.
'Fargett's quadrille band from Southampton is engaged,
and the M.C. will be Mr. W. F. Smith.

JOHN WYCLIFFE. —A lecture on the career and
genius of this great reformer is to be delivered by
Mr. John Bishop to-morrow (Wednesday) evening
at the Townhall. The lecture is in connection with
the Dorchester Working Men's Mutual Improvement
Society—an association which is, we hear, about to
change its title to that briefer and better one of
"Literary Institute."

CAUTION TO CARTERS. —On Friday week a Man
named Thomas Meager, of Fordington, while riding
on the top of a load of furie on the Bridport road,
fell to the ground and broke his thigh. He Was
taken to the County Hospital, and is now going on
favourably.
THE ROYAL Num',is.—A ball in honour of the
marriage of Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal
with Prince Frederick William of Prussia took
place at the Assembly Room, Antelope Hotel, on
Monday night, when a select party assembled, and
dancing was kept up with considerable animation for
many hours to the strains of Targett's Southampton
hand. The worthy host and hostess, Mr. and Mrs.
Yearsley, ably catered for the occasion, and every-
thing to secure the comfort and enjoyment of the
party was done, the most suitable refreshments
baifauriiifiabpopuinatifult4l!,
tired elegantly
ypair
supplied.
-as drunk in Jam-
pagne. All the arrangements were under the super-
intendence of that able Coryphceus, Mn W. F.
Smith, who fulfilled the duties of M.C. gracefully
and with politeness, and to the satisfaction of every-
one present.
POSTAL COMMUNICATION BETWEEN DORCHESTER,
SOUTHAMPTON, WEYMOUTH, THE CHANNEL ISLANDS,
AND SRLSTOL.—The report of the Bristol Chamber
of Commerce just published, says—a reply has been
received from the Postmaster-General to the memorial
on this subject contained in the last report, to the
effect that arrangements would be made as soon as
possible for a mail to leave Bristol for Southampton
at 1.45 p. m., which alteration has been carried into
effect, but the Postmaster-General declines to give
any further facilities on account of the expense which
they would involve. This, although a concession, is
by no means satisfactory, and your committee con-
sider that the public have a right to complain that
the Post-office authorities fix so low a value on the
importance of postal communication. It seems almost
incredible in the present day that the correspondence
of these localities should travel 200 miles, up to
London and back, in order to reach Bristol, when
the direct railway route is only 78 miles; and this
applies to the foreign as well as to the home corres-
pondence of cities and towns of such commercial and
public importance as Bristol, Bath, Southampton,
Poole, Dorchester, Weymouth, dtc.

THE CIVILITY OF THE TELSGRAPH.—One morn-
ing last week a gentleman from this town took a re-
turn ticket from Dorchester to London and back, by
the London and South-Western Railway, and after
purchasing placed, as he thought, the little talisman
in his waistcoat pocket, and passed into the waiting
carriage. By and by the train reached Southampton,
a collector demanded the gentleman's ticket, but,
strangely enough, the traveller could not find it.
The official having finished collecting the tickets
from the other passengers returned to the bewildered
Dorchester gentleman, who was beginning to lament
his 355. loss, and to detail the history of the pur-
chase at Dorchester; but the collector smilingly
made answer—" You left your ticket, Sir, on the
platform at Dorchester"—the telegraph had told him
so. Communication was had with the guard, and
the gentleman reached Waterloo station, when ano-
ther collector demanded his ticket or his money.
The gentleman called the guard, who speedily made
it "all right," and introduced the traveller to Mr.
Young, with whom the gentleman left his address
card, and was requested to call upon the same oblig-
ing functionary the following day on his return.
The gentleman, of course, willingly complied, and
was again agreeably surprised to find the ticket he
had bought at Dorchester awaiting him. Thus the
travellers carelessness was politely remedied by the
obliging assistance of a number of railway
officials to whom abuse rather than praise
is more frequently administered.
MUSICAL Litcxuaz.—On Tuesday evening last a
lecture was read in the Townhall by Mr. Linter, of
Weymouth, and illustrated by Miss Wells, and the
choir of St. John's, Weymouth. There was but a
scanty attendance of auditors, and we fear the
Working Men's Association, in aid of which the
lecture was given, will not be much benefitted by
the effort made on this occasion. Owing to the feeble
voice and unimpassioned style of the lecturer but
little of the so-called lecture reached the ears of the
majority of the audience, and that little was of an
uninteresting character. We heard nothing of the
history of music or of musical instruments, nothing
of the progress of the art, nothing of its great masters
(save Handel), Palestrina, Purcell, Wilbye, Haydn,
Mozart, Mendelssohn ;—no, of these not a word.
Anecdote was banished from the text, save in one
solitary instance ; and, but for the musical illustra-
tions, we fear the hearers of the first portion of the
entertainment would have left vacant places for the
second. Mr. Linter is an exceedingly good pianiste,
but we must confess that if we are to judge from
Tuesday's display, he lacks all the necessary qualifi-
cations of a lecturer. The short analysis of the
Messiah was most inappropriately illustrated by the
duet, "Oh ! lovely peace," from Judas Maccabceus
some airs from the former work following the duet.
By the bye, this duet is usually sung by two equal
voices, and an examination of the vocal score will
show this to be the most correct mode of perform-
ance. On the present occasion the beauties of the
composition were entirely lost owing to its being
sung by a soprano and bass. Miss Wells performed
the arduous part allotted to her in a most effective
manner. She possesses a good voice, and her ren-
dering of Handel's solos, " But thou didst not leave" '
and "I know that my Redeemer liveth" was so pure ,
and chaste as to call forth the unanimous applause of ,
the audience, and, but for the fact that she
had previously given "Rejoice greatly," and taken I
a part in the duet, "Oh! lovely peace," in rapid
suuccession, an encore would have inevitalby fol-
lowed. Miss Wells also sang "Oh ! had I Jubal's
lyre," from Joshua, the florid passages in which were
extremely well executed. The choir was entirely
amateur; and as the portions allotted to them were
of a most simple and unpretending description, it
was next to impossible for them to fail. Two or three
psalms (chanted), Miriam's song, an old Italian corals,
and a sanctus, were all that fell to their share in the.,
first part. The second part was enlivened with
illustrations of secular music, consisting chiefly of
what were termed the national airs of various nations.
Thus we learned, if we may rely on the authority
of the lecturer, that the Sicilian seamen have their
national air, as evidenced by the tune called "Sicilian
Mariners." Our friends, the Canadians, were also
presented with a nationality, in the shape of our old
acquaintance, "Row, Brothers, row," otherwise the
Canadian Boat Song. These, with some few others,
for instance, the "Swiss Boy," "Yankee Doodle,"
and a morsel from Gustavus, (though to what nation
this belonged, it is impossible for us to say, seeing
that the music of the opera from which it is taken is
modern, and by a French composer, and the story
Swedish), followed by our really "National air,"
"God save the Queen," brought the affair to a close,