The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1876-06-27 00:00:00

Perot Conniti Crinen.

TUESDAY. JUNE 27.1876.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The Queen has conferred upon her Royal
relatives, King George of Hanover and his son,
who have been boarding at Claridge's Hotel—
the palaces being so crowded with the presence
of Royalty—the -right to wear the British
uniform, by giving them the rank of a general
and a colonel in the British Army. Questioned
about this by Mr. Biggar the other night, Mr.
Disraeli gave the shuffling answer that the dis-
tinction was purely honorary. Considering the
Prince of Wales draws we don't know how
many thousands for acting as colonel to two or
three different regiments, Mr. Disraeli may
perhaps not be surprised if people who look at
matters from. a common-sense point of view
. .

regard his reply as one instance that would go
some way to give colour to Mr. Chamberlain's
strictures upon him. Her Majesty with her
limited income cannot be blamed for looking
after her poor relations; but, if as Mr. Disraeli
would have us believe, the appointments are
purely honorary and there is nothing tacked
on to them, it seems either a heartless joke, or,
a cruel sarcasm upon the state of our forces, to
appoint a blind-man a general in the English
Army.
It is stated that after next month Govern-
ment intends putting restrictions in the way of
Volunteers resigning and leaving their corps so
easily as at present. If this is true, what a
stampede there will be!
A celebrated hostelry, which is perhaps more
identified with banquets and entertainments of
a public character than any similar establish-
, ment in the metropolis, is about to disappear
I from view. The " London Tavern in
Bishopsgate-street, has been finally closed for
hotel purposes, and the furniture, fittings, and
Istock have been publicly sold by auction,
preparatory to the Wilding being taken down.
The total number of lots, as shown by the
catalogue, amounted to between two or three
thousand. Amongst these were some seta of
ornamental candelabra, formerly the property
of Prince Polignac, and a valuable tapestry
carpet which until a few years ago was in the
possession of the Duke of Buckingham. The
wines included a large quantity of old port of
the vintages of 1812 and 1815. The tavern has
been pissed by the Royal Bank of Scotland
for £BO,OOO, and as the site covers little more
than an area of 6,000 feet, the sum which the
Bank has paid for the property represents about
£l3 per superficial foot. The Bank, which
immediately adjoins the Tavern is to be
enlarged by the erection of a handsome archi-
tectural structure.

The Court of Appeal have settled a disputed
point in reference to whether a refreshment
license was required by houses, at the counters
of which such drinks as ginger beer were sold
without any accommodation being provided for
the customers who simply walked in and out.
Two of the Lords Justices and one learned judge
were of opinion that a license was necessary, and
this judgment will determine the matter. Lord
Justice Banally represented the minority, in
thinking that something more was required to
bring such a place under the act.

The firie summer weather of the past week
having occurred at a time when many credulous
persons had been led to apprehend excessive
rains, tempesta, and devastating floods, the
occasion seems opportune for pointing out the
untrustworthiness of weather prophets in
general. From a scientific point of view their
predictions are absolutely baseless and worthless.
Meteorology has made great advances of late
years, and the law. regulating the changes of
weather in these islands may be said to be now
fairly understood, but nothing that has been
discovered lends any countenance to the expecta-
tion that precise predictions of the weather
weeks or months in advance will be ever more
than random speculations. Even forecasts of the
immediate future, founded on telegraphic infor-
mation, are sufficiently uncertain. But these,
within limits, are rational and not by any means
to be confounded with the lucubrations of the
prophets. Of the latter it cannot always be
said that they are innocent of mischief; witness
the case of the unfortunate Scotch fisherman
who are reported to have lost a week's fishing
through the recent scare, and who will doubtless
remember Lieut. Saxby in their prayers.

The pending legislation upon the prisons of
this country give special interest to the statistics
issued during the past week by Henry Briscoe,
Esq., one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Prisons,
and referring to the year 1875. The following
are stastistica relative to prisons in the
West. The county prison of Devon, at
Exeter, contained a daily average number of
prisoners of 147. The average annual coat per
prisoner, after deducting the net profit on
earnings (11 6s. Md.), was £32 lls. d. The
borough prison of Plymouth contain a daily
average of 31, the average cost per prisoner,
after deducting the earnings (£2 Hz. 6d.), was
£3O 19s. 7d. The borough prison of Devonport
contained a daily average of 27, the average
annual cost per prisoner, after deducting the
net profit on the earnings (£9 175.), was
Jab 14a. 3d. The borough prison of Barnstaple
contained a daily average of 7 prisoners. The
average simnel cost, after deducting the net,
profit on the earnings (£3 14s. 8c1.), was
£3l 9s. 10d. The borough prison of Tiverton I
contained a daily average of 2.47. The average I
annual cost per prisoner, after deducting the
net profit on the prisoners' labour (£1 gs.), was
£lO3 3s. 7d. The Dorset county prison, at
Dorchester, contained a daily average of 79
prisoners. The average annual cost per
prisoner, after deducting the net profit on
prisoners' labour (£1 13s. 6d.), was £42195. 11d.
The borough prison at Poole contained a daily
average of 64; the average annual cost per
prisoner, after deducting the earnings (2s. 6c1.),
was £46 19s. Bd. The Cornwall county prison
I at Bodmin contained a daily average of 93 pri-
soners; the average annual cost per prisoner,
after deducting the net profit on the earnings
(a Bs. 9d.), was £35 ls. 9d. The Bath city
prison contained a daily average of 77 prisoners;
the average annual cost after deducting the net
profit on the awnings (E 2 Be. 7d.), was £2B 14s.
ad. The county prison, Shepton Mellott, con-
tained a daily average ot 1,12 prisoners; the
average annual cost per prisoner, after deduct-
ing the earnings (E 2 Is. 44d.), was edit ks.
The county prison, Taunton, contained • daily
average of 126; the average annual cost per
prisoner, after deducting the earnings (£1 14a.
Md.), was £33 lls. 64d. The Gloucestershire
county prison at Gloucester contained a daily
average of 180; the average annual cost per
prisoner, after deducting the net profit on the
earning.(£4 Os. 9d.), was £24 Is. 4d, The
City Bridewell prison, Bristol, contained a
daily average of 55; the annual swamp coat
per prisoner, after deducting the net profit on
the earnings (.£1 Os. 84d.), WAS £26 7s. 3id.
The Bristol City Prison contained a daily
rerrage of 119 prisoners; the average annual
cost, alter deducting the aet profit on the earn-
ings (£1 19s, Scl.), was £4O 9a. 10d. The Wilt-
'lure County Prison, at Devizes, contained s
daily average of 103 prisoners; the average
annual cost per prisoner, after deducting the
mornings (£1 9s. Bd.), was £32 Os. 11d.