The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

..ima habit e liminess between them, before '
osisoner took ont the bread, to aseettain the quantity
of loaves which he took out, which 1444 written on a
.Iste in his presence, which unwise he had to aocount
frie to prosecutor's niece n Lie return it, thin evening.
In consequ. nee of eirculteitanms which transpired,
prosecutor spoke to Mr. Devenistes asik, who kept
account of the ',umber of 1t41.011 which pri,iner delivered
to her, resulted in hi. bring detected Li
cliarginz n.orc bread Wl= he inpglied her with, ',wain;
the difference in his own pocket. In defence, primate
soil the dello;eney in the number of loaves wee owing to
, 4 mistake.—The jury found the prisoner guilty, sod he
was centeneed to live months' bard labour.
The Court rope at live o'clock until Monday morning.

DORCHESTER.—EI ICTION OF AUDITORS AND
ANSENSORS.—The election of persons to till these
offices for the coming year took place at the Town-
ball on Tuesday. Mr. James Drake and Mr. Richard
Groves were elected auditors in the room of Mr.
Thomas Patch and Mr. Joseph Morgan ; and Mr.
Frederick Bennett and Mr. Clement Rummy were
elected assessors in the place of Mr. Hobert Hazel
and Mr. George Greening.
WEYMOUTH. —Lwroate—Mr. J. Tell Topham
delivered a moat interesting and amusing lecture at
tbe lecture-room of the Literary Institution, on Wed-
neaday evening, before a numerous audience. The
subject was "Sheridan," • sensation life. In commencing
his lecture Mr. Topham mid that they frequently heard
it stated that genius was not hereditary. and no doubt
this was true; still it often happened that a name which
had become a household word in one generation bad
in the person of his descendants become • household
word in another. There had been more than one Pitt,
one fitiphenson, and one Keuable. There had been an
elder Disraeli, as well am • younger one, and the
talents of Wilberforce bad been continued, and, perhaps
surparied, by one of his sons, and for some generations
past the name of Sheridan hail been • familiar one.
The lecturer alluded to the friendship that existed
between Dean Swift and Sheridan, and the poetry
they wrote to each other. Talents in the Sheridan
family appeared to have been heroditsry,and even in the
present day that talent was worthily represented in
one of our most charming female poets. the Hon. Mrs.
Norton. Now-odays there were adding to their
vocabulary new words which even Dr. Johnson, if
be could revisit his loved Fleet-street, would have
some difficulty in comprehending their moaning. Many
of them words were exclusively under the patronage of
the rising generation. No one until within late years
ever beard of a lady dressing " loud." In former times
people did not "coo.. to grier as quickly as they did
now, neither did one person "take the shine" oat of
ono another as in modern times. Who could have ever
thought that • neat ooquettish covering for the head
should be celled a "pork pie ;" or that a curl of small
dimensions, and of stiff appearance. should be known
by the really alarming title of " kiss-inc-quick." In
former t num if • lady gave • gentleman her portrait it was
• sign of an interesting approaching crisis; now carte de
viaiies were as plentiful as blackberries upon a hedge,
and every geutleman had his hat full of them.
(Laughter.) A strangely-dressed permit was now
called • "cure," and an esquisitely-dreesed one a
" Lord Dundreary." If anything now achieved
popularity it created • "sensation." When • play
attracted attention it was called • " rensatiou" drama,
or when • novel was written it was called a "sensation*
tale Sheridan's life might fairly be called • " sense.
Sion" life. The lecturer asked his audience to accompany
him to Somerset, where they would go, as some
disagreeable permits often told them, "to Bath;" but
not !Seth of the present day, but as it warn 100 years ago.
At that time all the attention of the fashionable world
was attracted by the fame of • youthful female vocalist.
There wail nothing but aymmetry in her form, fascination
in her countenance, and ponneceed with the most
charming of %mime This lady was Miss Elisabeth
Lindley. All the world were in love with her, and of
course Sheridan wad too. She was the observed of all
observera, and had crowds of suitors, and was on the eve
of marrying an moomplished but hypocritical profligate
who hail obtained an influent:re over her. But Sheridan
saved her from this man's artifices. Ti,, gentleman in
question was a Captain Matthews, but he Wag dastardly
enough to attempt to injure her character by scandalous
state meat 'afterwards The con aequence thatSkerid an
sent • challenge to him, whiah was accepted, and the
captaio's life only was spared on Ida signing • paper
that his scandelous reports were untrue. He then
west into Cornwall, when soon after he sent a challenge
to Sheridan to fight again, and a most terrific struggle
took place, when both became ma weakened from lom of
blood that the emends parted them. If Miss Lindley
had been previously attached to Sheridan by his talents,
it was possible that the heroism which be displayed on
her behalf finally determined her choice, and they were
married. When a boy Richard Brinaley Sheridan was
very successful in keeping his talents from his friends,
and his mother, never dreaming of theoelebrity to which
one day he was destined, told his schoolmaster that he
was a donee. The lecturer then dwelt on Sheridan's
married life, and of his extravagance. He bad long
been used to good society, and he determined on
emomencing life ambitiously, and resolved to live as
though he were the possessor of • fortune. He desired
exeitement, audio mingle with the gay and fashionable.
He felt that it waa more agreesblo to live upon £2,000
than £OO, and he resolved twain realising • "sensation"
Ile. After his marriage he would not allow his wife
to sing in public, although he was tempted by an offer
of 4."2,000 for 13 nights. He however realised large
snms of money from private sources by parties hearing
his wife sing at her own home. This money for some
time kept up the splendour in which be lived, and be
was renowned for the Arguer, of his entertainments,
having the most distinguished people to dine with him.
Boon after Sheridan's marriage hie first dramatic work
was put before the public. In 1774 "The Rivals" was
produced, and, although at fires it did sot meet with
remarkable .11.X.211,it afterwards proved a great triumph.
and "The Rivals" became the feature of the mason.
The success which attended this comedy kept him
going. It brought him renown, and numerous friendo
were more sumptuously entertained than ever. Soon
after he appeared with another dramatic work, "The
Deanna," and the success amid popularity of the
dramatist were more popular than ever. At this time
the Literary Club, which was so full of Johnsonian
reminiscences, was in its career, and Sheridan was
elected • companion of it. Oerri4 was a great friend
of Sheridan's, and on his retirement from the stage
, Sheridan purchased two of his £5OOO shares in Drury-
, lane Theatre. This rustled. the. world bow • man
. .

without sny money Could raise £lO,OOO, but Garrick
got him the man. Ile now became Imam of the theatre,
taut Drury-lane without Garrick was like Msabeth
without Bengal). There was • gay in the Lou.., and an
unfortunate season was the result lie required a large
sum of motley to sustain him. No moderate victory

could suffice him, he must have • great pecuniary
triumph. He then wrote 'The School for Soandei,.
and Vas not only kept up Isia fame but increased it.
Tide comedy became the talk of the town,snd thousands
of pounds were realism' by it. Tbi re were none of the
tricks of the stage in Sheridan's plays. There was no
murderous, ruffian digging a gloomy grave near an old
quarry, nor any parson to take • tremendous header
into a canvass lake. There ass nothing which would
assimilate with the drama in %blob all the dramatis
',maw were killed in the (earth act, and the remainder
if the iilay had to be carried out by their executors. In
his dramas all were legitimate. Soon after this be
suffered a severe blow by the death of Garrick. and the
outward show of grief which be displayed as chief
mourner only partially showed his private sorrow.
Sheridan was not a man of business. He was not
laborious or systematical. He required to be driven
to work, and he never did today what he could do to-
morrow. Industry, however, was as mammary to
swans as greet Went. Sheridan we. a restless man.
His ambition grew with his success, and be was unions
to obtain • seat In Parliament. He felt enzious to acute

• " sensation" them, as he bad done in society. At
the dissolution of Parliament he resolved upon contest-
ing Stafford. Sheridan could not be induced to put
forth great power except when stimulated by difficulties.
The announcement that his play of "Th. Critic" would
take place. spin put London in great excitement The
last act of this play was not written until within four
days of its production, and then the manager of the
theatre had to lock him in • room and provide him
with claret Sheridaa then set to work in right good
earnest, and finished his work by the time the claret
Wan exhausted. His labours were 'sty successful, and
"The Critic" is fell of his wit and satire. This play
was the last of his original contributions to the stip.
He then went down to Stafford to contest the election.
He humorously received the banter of the mob, and
captivated them. He flattered the wives of the voters,and
wee greatly interested in children. He touched the voters
in the right place, and left no means to ensure summit
and he was successfuL In the Hall of Si. Stephen's he
was reselti as n debate, and often kept the House in
laughter his wit, and w remarkable for good
humour an pleasantry. Mr. Tophern referred to the
acquaintance of the then Prince of Wales with Sheridan,
and said it was no light trial for such • man when the
heir apparent looked upon him as his friend and
companion. At this time the Priem of Wake was the
hope of the nation- To break street lamps, to puzzle
the efforta of watchmen, to seek for strange nocturnal
adventures, to visit the haunts of crime in St. Gil..'.,
or in those gloomy wren' within the Seven Dials, to
bonn--1 the watch, and commit other riotous excises' in
the dimly-lighted streets, were amusements which
young Ragland at that time indulged in, and in which
Sheridan joined. Great statesmen were then aosturtomed
to like revels. A street row at night by the Prince of
Wales, and Sheridan by his side, was often the case.
But this princely companionship was only the more
sure to conduct our hero to his doom. The bulldog of
Improvidence had seised upon and would not leave him
They were now approaching one of the most important
events of his life, in which be appeared as the greatest
actor in the Home of Commons, and the lecturer alluded
at some length to the part he took in Surke's impeach-
ment of Warren Hastinp for the system of Government
pursued by him in India, when Sheridan startled his
audience by his eloquent oratory. Mr. Topham also
alluded to the difference which took place between
Burke and Sheridan in their views of the French
Revolution, and which were the means of for ever
separating these two renowned politicians, both in
political and social life, who had fought side by side in
so many battles, who had worked together in the debate
on the American War, and who had gaioed almost
equal laurels as orators. This was the first little cloud
that rested upon him ; but others soon followed, for
his beloved wife, sister, and his youngest daughter fell
victims to consumption. He felt deeply this bee, and,
in order to avoid solitude, rushed into society and
=7.1:. of its dissipations, and gathered in • destructive
The lecturer, after noticing some pecuniary
difficulties which Sheridan got himself entangled with,
said, that although be had been in Parliament 26 years
he had only represented Stafford; but he was now
desirous of representing Westminster, to the great
grief of his constituent& To Westminster he went,
and election candidates were then treated in about the
tame miaow as the ones at Brighton had been lately.
He wam soon put ton de combat, having received •
severe blow from • marrow bone, yielded by a butcher,
who, no doubt, darned to have fair play and liberty
Of the subject (laughter.) Sheridan won the day
'for the uncertainty ,
be had to regret leaving the certainty of
et of Westminster, for another
election soon took place, and he was defeated, and his
ambition received a very severe blow. His course was
now downwards, sad Alum& he had married again
there was no im t be was Mill the victim Of
hwProrkknon ir"rerr intestrophe for him invonsid
In 1800. for his mwiliemat theatre *aught lire, and the
entire banditti was tutted, so that his meat name of
revenue wag goon rat if years at Ids lite be was la

receipt of £1:5,000, but of this sum no.oco went in
payment 4 r lawyers and for interests on loans
Sherid.n't If. was now rapidly drawing to • close. Hi •
friends who were so often with him when all was blue
sky did not crawl arooal him in the ght ich now
ereircl-d him, and he died at the age of fri. For sem,
time many of his foends who had made th. nmelres
conspicuous by their ansence from him when olive now
gathered as eaglet around his tidy; tool on the 1311 f
July, 1816, the body of the wit, dramatist, end
statesman was deposiail in Westruinst r Abbey. near
the grave of Garrick. his early arid attached friend.
Now thst this "sensation" life had closed, whet was it
but • dismal tragedy. Sheridan sated upon the ptinciple
that all was gold that glitte red. He did not adopt the
ordinary maxims of prudence, and the remelt showed
that he could not dodge its inevitable penalty. In
dwelling on his career they could see that the path of
duty was the way to glory, and thtt • " sensation" If..
all appearances to the contrary, was only a paraphiele
for anxious and feverish excite:mon A vuto of thaeke
was accorded to the hector"?.
BOROIJUII Pirrry Ssesionn, Tanwda3'. —Beth"' J.
Ayling and W. Taylor. &qrs.
DILUNKZHNIx.e. William Reeves and John
Shilson were charged with being drunk and riotous
on the Quay.—P.C. Mitchell proved the case. He
beard a disturbance on Saturday night, about ten
o'clock, when on going on the Quay he found de.
fendanta very riotous, and making use of obscene
language, causing • great many persons to assemble
arouod them.—Defendants expressed contrition,
and were each fined sa. and mars.
Innsumiso a DONKEY.—Thomas Shaddock, •
coal porter, was summoned for working • donkey
whilst in an unfit state—P.C. Mitchel said, on the
22nd of February, he saw defendant with a donkey
and cart in St. Edmund-street The cart was laden
with coal, and as the donkey appeared to be in pain
he examined it, when he found a large raw wound
on the left shoulder. The collar was rubbing the
wound.—Defendant said be did not know the
animal had • wound. —Superintendent Lidbury said
the animal was a very old one, and was quite unfit
for work. —The Bench said defendant must destroy
the donkey, and they would adjourn the case for •
week, to see if he would do so. If he did not, the
Bench would fine him.—Defendant said he would
comply with the wish nf the Bench.
ROBBIRY. —John Whitcroft, a private of the
64th Regiment, was brought up in custody, charged
with entering the premises of Thomas Fulljames, at
Weymouth, and steeling therefrom a jacket and
pair of troweers.—Prnsecutor stated that he lived at
St. Nicholas-street, Chapelry. In consequence of
hearing • noise against his back door, about two
o'clock on Tuesday morning, he Came down stairs.
He found the back yard door forced open, and on
going in the yard he found prisoner in the closet
with • pair of his troweers around his waist. He
asked what he did there, when prisoner replied "all
right." Witness went for a policeman, leaving pri-
soner in the closet, and on their return found
him coining out of the yard with the jacket under
Ins great coats--R.S. Brine said in consequence of
what the last withers told him be accompanied him
to his house, where he found prisoner in the closet.
As soon as he saw him he took the jacket from under
his great coat and threw it on the seat. He had
previously seen him about the streets, and told him
to go to the barracks. —Prisoner pleaded not guilty,
and in excuse said he had had • little liquor, and be
was not aware that he was in prosecutor's premises.
Be was an old soldier, and had never been brought
before magistrates before. Ile did not know how ho
Mae in possession of the clothes, as they were
not worth twopence to hie:L-111r. A yling said the
Bench were sorry to see an old soldier, who had
served for 20 years, placed in the position prisoner
was, but the law must be enforced, and they should
send him to gaol for 14 days with hard labour.
AcCIDINT.—A. shocking accident occurred at the
Government works on the Rothe, on Saturday morning.
From what we can learn of the circumstances, it
appears that • party of Sappers were engaged in lower-
ing • stone, weighing between three end four tons, by •
" gantree" or travelling' crone, when, by thine unac-
countable means, the oog-wheel of the "traveller"
broke, hurling ninnies pieces of iron about in all
directions, One of these pieces unfortunately struck
Sapper Merry with great violence, cutting open the
back portion of his bead in • frightful manner. He was
immediately reissued to the Barrack Hospital, when, on
an examination taking place, the medical men believed
the injoriee were of such a serious character that it
would be almost impossible for the sufferer to recover.
Fortunately, however, such has not proved to be the
came, for on making inquiries, we are glad to learn that
under the skilful treatment be has received, he is pro-
gressing favourably.
RIFLE Irrinmencs—The members of the rifle
corps of this town assembled by bugle call on Monday
evening, at tbeirdrill room, for the purpose of hearing
• lecture delivered by Captain Barrett, the adjutant
of the battalion, on "Theoretical Principles" and
** Cleaning Anne." The lecture, which was of •
very interesting nature, and lucidly explained, by the
aid of several diagrams, was listened to with much
attention. At its conclusion he catechised the men on
the lecture, when the various questions put wire
answered with great correctness and precision. After
so doing he inspected the corps, putting them through
various evolutions, which were done in such • smart
and soldierlike manner that the gallant sdjatant ex
pressed himself highly gratified with the manner in
which they had acquitted themselves. Within the
past fortnight about 18 recruits have joined the corps,
and as they have been kept bard at drill, under the
instruction of Sergeant King, they have made rapid
progress, and will soon be able to be drafted from the
awkward squad into the ranks of the "old soldiers."
Concern—The ooncert given on Friday evening at
the Working Men's Room, High-street, was attended
with • considerable amount of success, the room being
well filled with that clam of parsons for whose amuse-
ment it had been given. A good selection of music was
gone through, the whole of the pieces being well sung.
CO-OPZILATIVI STOlll.—We have been Informed on
very good authority, that ere long one of these valuable
institutions will be started in this town. Certainly it
is • matter of surprise that one has not been established
before, when it is borne in mind that almost every town
now boasts of having its oo.opemtive store, especially as
the advantages to be derived from such • source by
workieg men are very great. A similar institution has
been in existence in Dorchester for nearly three years,
and has been eminently suceertful, and, according to the
last quarterly report of the institution, the committee
are now prepared to pay a boners of Ls. 2.1. in the
pound.
TIIIPZIANCZ Licruitz.—On Friday evening Mr.
G. H. Pea, • missionary of the Western Tem-
perance League. delivered • lecture at the Tem-
perance Society's Roper, Park-street, to a numerous
audience. The chair was occupied by Mr. lidwerd
Brown, who in a few appropriate remarks introduced
the lecturer. Mr. Fee for the space of about an hour
and half rivetted the attention of the company by the
startling facts he brought before their notice, showing
the evils which had resulted from the too frequent in-
dulgence of the intoxicating cup, and the effect it had
upon the human mos in general. He urged his bearers
to abandon the drinking customs of the present age,
and unite themselves with the temperance cause, so that
by their example they might also induce others to do
the lame.
THZ BRITISH CABINET Wins= MID Teill WIDOW.
—There is an amusing story ourrent• at the clubs, of
which • member of the cabinet is the hero, and which
deserves • record, even though the documents which
mtablish its authenticity are not in my hands. There
is • noble member of Her Majesty's government who
is • widowerand beguiles the tedium of his lonely days
by pitching. Many of our Weymouth friends have
undoubtedly men him. Certainly the noble lord cute •
neat figure going up the companion ladder in white
ducks, short jacket, and straw hat ; but the nimble
way in which he does his sailor's work endears him to
the era. Well, as the story goes, this tailor lord went
•-yaehting last autumn in the dreary days of the mess,
and in his voyage touched upon Malta. As the Fates
would have it, there was in society there • gay widow,
fat, fair, and forty, who drew her charms about the
sailor's heart, and so succeeded was the in her
playful moods, that the aged peer hovered about
her, and eould not tsar himself away to Eng-
land aid the calls of duty. Ihtt the month
of November was at hand, and the cares of office most
be responded to, so with a faint sigh, the force of which
only parting lover, can appreciate, the venerable suitor
one day told the lady that he must leave for England
on the morrow. "How very strange," said the lady,
"1 purported to start for London to-morrow also; but
unfortunately the regular packet does not set out for
tome days, and all the Inquires which I have made fail
to let me know of any means of having sooner." "If
you will favour me,' replied the gay Lothario, "my
yatch is at year disposal I have mime friends on board
and • comely crew," and without much pressing the
buxom widow oonaented to share the plessuree of the
'cone with her admirer. But the longest and the
tertest voyage haa an end, and in due time the
eAllAses reached England, touching at Southampton.
The suddenness of the route had prevented the lady
from making arrangements before she left Melts. which
would enable her friends to meet her oo her arrival.

And here again her kind hoot came to the rescue; as
they bad passed a pleasant sea voyage in one another's
someetieerhaps the lady would do him the favour of
tar' in the same train with him, that they might
put off t day of parting a little longer. It was true
he wee going to Basintoke to his private house, but he
would only spend a n ht there, and would start for
London the following y. Alter all it was not a peat
break on the lady's journey, and the delay would not
be too long to keep her from bee anxious friend.. After
some coy refusals the lady kindly consented, and off
they started for Basingstoke. We dare not enter upon
the privacy of the domestic circle, but may conclude
that an intimacy began under such pleasant circum-
stances would not become more formal in its closing
scenes, and that the pressing courtesy of the host
was sure to have its effect upon the lady's heart. The
next morning, as the hour of departure drew near,
the carriage came to the door, bat the lady gave no
, indications of preparing for the journey to town;
I and, after a time, the noble lord threw out some
hints that, if she wished to wive In London
at the hour she had named the night before,
they must start at 0000 to catch the train. This little
speech bad an effect, though not exactly the effect which
It wee expected to produce. The lady said she had
already received such marked attentions from her noble
host that she could no longer mistake their purport,
and as he had laid hie heart at her feet she would there
and then accept it as her own. She ooald not, there-
fore, think of leaving his house unless as his wife. To
leave it under other circumstances would plats her in
an anomalous position, and might lead to her exclusion ,
from society. How the lady resigned the hospitable 1
attention ot her noble lover for the protection of her
friends is not recorded, but under legal advice, iris mid,
she has taken steps to bring against him an action for a
breach of promise of marriage, and that the declaration
bas been already drawn. The noble lord is not likely
to preside on the triad his own caum.—Corrapondeiti
of the Irish Times.
CHICKERKLL Tomatoes Mderrno. —On
Monday evening a numerous party partook of an
excellent tea, at the Independent Maps' in this Milne.
A bountiful supply of creature comforts was provided,
In the shape Of tea and cake, over width an beer
pared very agreeably away. After the social meal