The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-22 00:00:00

_foreign an Colima intalignut.

FRANCS—The French Government has sustained •
serious def eat in the elect/onset Paris and Dijon. In Paris,
M. Peßatan has been returned by a majority el 5,000 votes
over the Government candidate, notwithstanding the
whole influence of the Government was brought to bear
against him, and the most unfair practices resorted to in
order to blacken his character. All this has had the
natural effect of making the defeat of the Government
more conspicuous and significant. At Dijon also the
Opposition candidate beat the Government nominee by
• large majority. The debate in the Senate on the
Address was marked by one of the Marquis de &daisy's
eccentric speeches, who quite startled the senators by the
onslaught he made on the obsequiousness of courtiers.
A report is current in Paris that the Emperor intends
to give • proof of his peaceful intentions by • reduction
o/ the army by 100,000 men. Such a measure, if real,
and not merely& removal of a number of men from tbe
active list into the reserve, would be regarded with un-
feigned satisfaction by the whole of Europe.
A most important meeting of the Opposition members
of the Frer.eh Legislature has been held, at which it was
unanimously agreed to demand the recall of the Mexican
expedition. On the question of Pulaml, two energetic
speeches were made in favour of war. M. Thiers, how.
ever, showed that war wasimposaible, or neoesserhy fatal
to France, as her isolated action would cause • European
coalition, Germany seeing in a Polish war only a dis-
guised claim to the Rhenish provinces. M. niers failed
In carrying a resolution to 'Wain from a discussion on
Poland in the debate on the address.
AM ERICA.—The news brought by the America, on
Wednesday, considering what the news was that recent
mails brought, shows how utterly useless it is to depend
upon accuracy of details in the Northern report. of the
events of the present war. But a short time since the
intelligence we received led all, and even the most
sanguine, to take the gloomiest views of the prospects
of the South. Bragg was scattered to the winds,
Meade was marching southwards, seemingly without
opposition, and except at Knoxville and Charleston
the North everywhere appeared to he triumphant.
By the America, however, we learn, what indeed
was partly known Wore, that the Northern triumph
was chiefly of a rhetorical kind, and that, instead
of advancing to Richmond, Meade has been com-
pelled to retreat upon Washington, and a Govern-
ment 'organ of that city declares his campaign to
have been a military failure. The way to the
Southern Capital has not yet been discovered, and a
rumour is again afloat to the effect that Meade, who,
next to General M'Clellaa, has shown the best general-
ship, will be superseded by Sedgerick. Bragg, the Con-
federate General, it is said, has been replaced by General
Harder, and the report is that the latter was about to
resume the offensive. Longstreet bed made an assault
upon Knoxville but was repulsed. His fore*, however,
has been strengthened, and he may have better luck next
time. Shot and shell continues to be wasted upon
Charlestoo ; but Gilmore has apparently given up all
hope of taking Sumter. President Lineoln was said to
be serioaaly ill of small pox. His message was ex-
pected to be delivered on the Bth inst., and it. tenor was
being anticipated by the New York papers In accordance
with their respeetive sympathies. A Cincinnati Con-
sanative Union National Committee, at a recent meet-
ing, had nominated General WClelLui for the next
Presidency.

The Field, April 214, 1861, speaking of Benson's
Argentina, says—" This material, possessing and re-
taMing • perfect resemblance to silver, can be nianufac-
tared at a trifling coat into article, of plate for ordinary
household ume,ae well SI ornaments of a more pretentious
character." Thin splendid material is • compound of
various metals, with • heavy deposit of pure silver,
forming one hard compact body, possessing all the
beauty, richness of colour, and durability of silver, at a
fraction of its cost. Whea the argentine and the real
silver are placed side by side, the most skilful judge
cannot distinguish between them, while its durability
Is so great that after many years' wear its appearance
remains unaltered. During Milled 17 years it has been
BO well received by the public, that its manufacture has
been extended to all those articles usually made in silver,
viz, spoons, forks, dinner, tea and coffee services,
waiter., breed and cake baskets, candelabra, dishes of
all kinds, epergnes, claret jugs, kc., dm.. Ire. A sample
7,Ziowilmloben "ntipPtt free to any part of the
tPl7u"nited
ctrated
Catalogue, containing 300 engravings, and full price-list
of the various manufactures, both in argentine and
solid silver, will be rent to any address on receipt of six
stamp& A prise medal was awarded to J. W. Benson
for' excellence of manufacture, argentine, and electro-
plate." Post-office orders and cheque. should be made
payable to James W. Benson, Branch Establishments,
46, 47, and 63, Cornhill. All comm nioations should
be addreseed to the principal establishments, 33 and 34,
Latir•-hill. London. .ablished 1749—Watch and
maker by special warrant of appointment to
H.R.H. the Prince of Wales.
ROT AL Awriuhay. —Housiwar's onetime dm PULA.
• seriserit hi the Royal Artillery writes, on December 12th,
MOS from Powismatte, Madras Prwsdaney, that his Hitt
leg, from the ankle to the calf, IMO a quormalre of divines and
corruptioo ; that be was on the hospital roll for twelve
months without any Improvement In his ; that be, a. a
I tortoni hope. reaolved to try Holloway'. celebrated Ointment
sod Ma This soma gava sem, expelled the bed humoun
from the Limb, healed the apparently Incurable wire, and
restored him to mooed health. Soldiers sod milers are
esrowitly recommended to bore mourn to them Invaluable
msdkameets for coring old wounds, SOM, or ulcers—more
particularly when they Imre arisen free bapruisaes, sad
mem Incurable.