The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-03-05 00:00:00

TDB DUTIES OF VOLUNTEERS.

The Sfuladard says that the question I, whether, sup.
posing the late raid to have been temporarily sudesaful,
the Mayor of Chester would have been at liberty to Gall
out the local volunteers, placing them under the com•
mend of their own officers, and ordering them to fight
pro eerie erfocis against so orgdisyd attack by 1,500
desperadoes, whose rank, would inevitably ham been
swollen by accessions from the rogues and vagabonds,
whom the hope of sacking a populous and wealthy city
would invvitably hay* drawn together. The nalord
Instinct of self-prevemation would suggest an affirmative
answer off hand. According to the degree in which the
public realised the idea that the Fenians might as well
have paid • visit to themes to the good folks of Chester,
thy would regard the civic dignitary's conduct with ap•
provel in precise proportion to the promptitude and
vigour which he had displayed. And yet it lemma vary
likely that if the mayor had saved his city from pillage 1
by employing the volunteers naiad their Pallid visitors,
he and his men, if life had been lost in the endeavour.
would bad been liable to a mosecution for murder, and
must have stood a trial lit, that which now awaits
Colonel Nelson and Lieut. Brand. The legal bearind
of the question were discussed at some length in the
House of Lords on Monday night, with • placidity
eminently worthy of that magnet assembly. Their lord-
ship., however, were evidently pressed by the pradmal
difficulty which Lord Conning felt in India ; which Go•
we. nor Eyre let in Jamaica ; whist+ staled the hand of
the tender-hearted captain of dmgoons. whoa- unwilling.
moos to act agsinat hi, countrymen laid Brion.) in ashes;
which, only the other day, gave up Belfast to a mob
of house wreckers. 000 thing. at least, is perfectly
dear. the Act under which the volunteer force is con-
stituted does not permit Its employment to quell
domestic tumult. At the time the Act was
Parliament was in a state oL blissful inability ret•
dim such an emergency as arms at Chester the other
day. But after what has happened there only a may
sanguine man would venture to say that • repetition of
such attempts Is altogether impcpsible, and wherever
they may he nude the orompt.tude ef repression is the
essence of misty. It is, therefore, in every poi tof
view extremely desirable, either that the law of tim
subject should he amended, or that we should reengniee
our present position •ncl accept it with all it. conga.
queued. The Lord Chancellor very truly said that
there amino reason why the volunteers should not act
as special datable', or why, when so soling, they
should not um whstemr e4vaht•imit their milittry
organisation may give them for the preservation cf
order. But we cannot agree with the noble and learned
lord that they would be equally at liberty to employ
the guns and ammunition which are plaited in their
hands for purely military porpoise against any amentbly
of rioters or temulettous persons •hatever. Feasibly,
It might be held that the Pentane were not were
rioter., but were traitors or alien envied., jeering vs,
against the Queen, and at, omstroctively within the
definition of the Act of Parliament Possibly, also, in
a matter coming close home, the maxim inter arena
silent !eggs on which the Jamaica authorities relied,
might be deemed suelient to enema any technisal
Irregularity. Them doubts ought, however, tube settled
beforehand, and not left to operate on the minis
• be preserver' Of the pads at times when everything
depend' on instant action ; when they have to choose
between running all risks by • breach of the law, and
endangering the lives of peed-loving cinema by its
ob,..moss. Had the volneleers at Monad Bay been
two or three hoodred, instead of twenty or thirty, the
Insurgent' would serer had obtained their temporary
and long lmfore now we should have forgotten
It.▪ susbreok. We i 1.1,0 no wish to learn a lemon from
ezpenspos hem, which has been already taught
us quid emphstioally enough by ahsy Bsppesed is
J. 012106, and what but for time timely wanting might
have happened at Chatter. The attention of Parliament
has now being called to the subject, and the grave
questions thereby suggested ought DO IODIVr to remain
unsettled.
Tim Nerving Advertiser is glad to hear that Her
Naivety's Clovernseent have referred the question to
the law Aden of the Crown. Whatever may be the
date of the low with regard to it, we are sere of this,
that nothing °odd be more prejadictil lotto popularity,
and therefore to the patriotic character of the volunteer
fore*, than that it should get abroad that it may be
employed as • sort of armed polka. Against patting it
so sod • use there would be a untested protest. and
Ow moor say pub Intuition a disclaimed fie batter.

BATH AND WEST OF KNOLLND
AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The usual monthly meeting of this society wee belnl
, at Taunton on Tuesday, the 26th Feb., ander the pre-
sidency of John Tremayne, Esq. Mere were also
present—Messrs. R. G. Barloock, 8.. Breinridge, R.
Brant, M.D.. it. H. Bush. J. H. Cotter,ll, T. Danger,
M. Fervent, H. Fooks, John Grey, Jonathan Oney,
J. D. Hancock, W. R. Hicks, T. Hassey, J. K Enollys,
If. St. John Maule, Rev. T. Plaillpotts, Measm. S.
Pitman, J. P. Pitts, J. M. Boone Streeter, E. II Vidal,
E. B. Williams, H.Spaekman (Official Superintendent),
and J. Goodwin (Secretary and Miter).
TIM APPROACHING BALIBIORT NIZITIRO.—The Be.
archery having read a letter (rem the Right Worshipful
the Mayor of Salisbury, announcing that SS yet there In
no authorise ion to re-open the Cettle Market, it was
moved by the Rev. T. Phillpottr, nod resolved, "That •
deputation, consisting of the President, Sir J. T. B.
Dock eorth, Bart.. Mr. Arland. M.P., Mr. Walrentl,
M.P., Mn. Neville Grenville, M. P., and the Rev. T.
Phillpotts, Ic requoted to apply to the Lord President
of II e outsell for authority to hold a me ting fnr the
eshibitlon of stock in the week commencing the 10th of
Jane, and the Mayer of Salisbury be requested to co-
operate in the application."
Tug OPUIING Day OF THI SALIBRORT MILTING.
A committee, appoints I by the Council to consider and
report on Um best 111,11114 for rendering the opening day
of the Salisbury Meeting mere popular and atirective,
repnrted that thi y met at Amery e _brine:m.6er lintel,
Bath. on Friday. Fehreary Bth :—Preurst, Mr. Hnnllve,
in the chair, Mr. W. Thompson (11.70 r of Bath),
111: rms. Jonathan, Grey, Henry Bunke., R. Brent,
M.D., S. Pliman ,Jamee Hole, end John Grey, mid that ,
they unanimously recommend :7
_

I 1. That the resnintissi world by the Conseil at their
hist meeting oat the 29th J "to invite the Mayor
of Salishury to open the Rsßebury Pohlbiol.. n.
Manley, Jane 10th, acoomponied by the Town Council,
the Town Clerk, the honorary local Secretary. and the
actin: laud Committee," be communicated to his
! Worship and his eolleeptee without delay.
,1 2. met Salisbury being the residence of the Diocesan
I and • cathedral city. the 'Bishop, the Dean, and the
other cathedral digniteries should also be invited to the
opening.
3. That en invitation As alsn cent to the members if
the ninety of Wilts, and to the members for the eity of
Salisbury.
4. That the edmimion to the yard of throe invited to
take rit.rt in the opening ceremony should he fisted for
one o'cioefir punctually. end that in order to ensure.
fitting reception for thole invites?, the President of the
Society, tel each Vice-Presidents end Governors so
mot be at fieliehury, together with the Stewards sold
Officers of the Rociety, should assemble in front of the
oilers at knot ten minutes before the time of opening.
That the company be admitted into the yard by wee
prieate do. r sanctioned by the financial Committee, and
thet Ruch floor be at coca clewed after the last invited
guest hae penned thr,ugh.
5 Ihist one hour he allowed for the visitors to walk
round the various departit.ents
1. Thet a wild luncheon be provided at 2 o'clock, in
each tent at the Stewards of Arrangements may
min,; that at such luncheon se smenodation be pro-
"him foe Indies; that the addressees in relation to the
opening of the Eabibition be made in this tent
immediattly after Innelson i.OO eluded, and that the
reporters fur the public pros he admitted t • the
lune. en on the same terms ai they formerly were to
the annual dinner.

7. That subject to the abase exception in f
thr Press, no charge be made on the Society's funds for
luncheon tickets.

k That the Contractor for the Show Yard refresh-
ment& be required to provide the luneherst on the
terms named in ronehtion 3 of the Refreshment
Contract, try which cold luncheon is to be provided ate
charse of 2s. 6,1. for each person, soolu&re of liquors.
9. That the rarticulars of lhe opening cerentonp.
together with the charge of Innt;leon. be imported In
the programme of the week's proeeedines.

10. That the geld stewards, Mr. Knotty', and Mr.
Jones, be mime:tett to ivsi•t the stew•rd of the Mess
(Mt. Henry St. John Mauls) in carrying out the
arrangements reqnsite for the luncheon, and for the
reception and ascommodation of lady visitors.
11. That the Steward. of Horticulture and Made be
requested to make arrannements for the openieg
of the liorticulteral Tent, and for the atten-
dance of a band of mu-ic is the yard by one o'clock, on
the opening day of the Rehibition.
This report was unanimously adopted.
On the motion of Mr. C,Sterell, a 'committee, con•
misting of Mr. Knotty'., Mr. liradooek, Mr. Cotters'',
Mr. Moysey, Mr. Poole, Mr. Aeland, N P.. Dr. Sect..
the Pee. T. Phillpotts, Mr. Hicks, Mr. Rawlense and
Mr. Pain, MIA appointed to co-operate with the Salis-
bury Local Committee, in considering bow the objects
of toe Society may be promoted durng the week of the
show hy the re"ding of parer', the riving of lectures,
convereasione. ha. The Committee subeequently met,
and the e,•airamen (Mr. Cotterell) was directed to gem-
niuni"ate with the Local Authorities at S•lisbury -1,6
tbe view of arresting for an seining meeting or eon.
vemasiono. on Wednesday or Thursday eve,ing, at
whir* information on load agricultural nod other
kindred subjects maw be off ,Med. It was •lee, directed
that 11,qoiry be made as to whether an excursion ma
be arranged to •ny object of agricultural Interest in the
vicluity, do. leg the week of the show.