The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-04-05 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DrIRCHIATER, TIMSDAY, APRIL 5, 1864.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.

It Is believed that Lord Clarence Paget will,
after the reassembling of Parliament, move a
supplementary estimate of £lOO,OOO for the
err:Lion of the Naval College recommended by
the Select Committee. It is also reported that
Major-Oeneral Hay has induced the War-office
to substitute the Whitworth for the Enfield
rifle, a change that will involve a large expendi-
ture of public money. We have reason to
believe, however, that this change refen only to
the rifle regiments.
M. Xavier Raymond, the well-known writer
in the Revue des Deux Mendes on naval matters,
writes to to the Journal des Meats a clever
article on our attempts to obtain a gun. He
describes with much sarcasm the course adopted
by our War-office and our Admiralty in con-
structing Armstrong guns wholesale, before we
had tried any of them; and he asks whether we
are satisfied with the gun known as the Duke of
Somerset's, which is the most popular just now,
and is announced as a new discovery, whereas it
is a return to the gun of the time before we
spent nearly three millions upon the Armstrong
system. He points out the inferiority of English
artillery to the French gun "Mane Jeanne,"
which, three years ago, reread plates 41 inches
thick at a distance of nearly 1,100 yards. and,
although weighing only six tons, carries shot of
981 b., with a charge of 24 lb., and after 6ring
500 rounds was still uninjured. To do this we
are, he says, falling into the error of the
Americans in constructing guns of forty or fifty
tons, instead of having handy guns like the
French.

The papers generally are now very busy with
the discussion of Irish questions. Lord Lifford
has written along letter to the Times—furnishing
the subject of • leader—upon the "State of
Ireland," in which he comments upon the fact
that emigration, reoommended in 1834 as the
greatest boon to Ireland, is in 1864 regarded as
ita greatest bane. Then there are two other
panaceas suggested—tenant right and out-door
relief. The first remedy, he says, has proved
delusive • and, in evidence, he instances a large
estate "leased for ever" at a rent of 2s. 64 per
acre, where the farms are miserable and the
farmers broken down' with a cottier population
"ground to the dust by high cottage rents and
low wages." then, as to outdoor relief, his
lordship remarks that the system coats England
five times as much as Ireland pays for the sup-
port of its destitute poor, while the (rails of the
system are—improvident marriages, neglect of
children, drunkenness, and immorality. But
these are the remedies suggested to stop Irish
emigration—a movement not to be regretted
when it is an exchange of the competition of
surplus labour for employment for tho competi-
tion of employment for labour. Lord Lifford,
in conclusion, declares that recklessness of life
and insecurity of property are the real and deep-
seated causes of poverty in Ireland, and them
cannot be cured by invasion of landlord's rights
or by out-door relief, except, indeed, on the
homeopathic principle of similia /Minus
cerantur, and even in that case he fears there
would be what is called "homeopathic aggrava-
tion."
A severe lesson on the crime of arson was
taught last week by Lord Chief Justine Cockburn,
A man named Kelt was indicted at Burt tit
Edmund's Arises for having set fire to his
property for the purpose of defrauding the
&vat Eishange Insurance Company. The
prisoner purchased the property in 1861 for
.£1,200, hut business seemed to have declined,
and on the 3ro November last he effected an
insurance on the stock-in-trade and building*
for £1,600. On the night of the following
ISunday, his wife and family being absent on
a visit, a fire broke out open the premises, and
although there was no direct evidence connecting
Kelt with the commission of the mime, a long
chain of circumstances left no doubt in the minas'
of the jury as to his guilt. The judge expressed
his entire ooncurrence in the verdict, and sen-
tenced the prisoner to be kept to penal servitude
for twenty years.
The nation will rojoioe to hear that their
Sovereign has at last determined to resume the
active performance of those minor duties of the
Court which belong to her exalted position.
The ceremonials which have been for many
months deputed to the Prince and Princess of
Wales will now be undertaken, at least in part,
by the Queen. On Wednesday (to morrow)
her Majesty will hold a Court at Buckingham
Palace, at which she will receive the principal
members of the Corps Diplomatigee ; and on
the following Wednesday • limited number of
persons will have an opportunity of attending
and paying their respects to their Sovereign.
During May and June two State concerts and
two State balls will be holden at the palace, at
which Her Majesty will probably, however, hot
be present. The Queen's birthday, which has
not been observed since 1841, will be celebrated
this year by Her Majesty's desire. The three
remaining drawing rooms of the season will be
holden by the Princess of Wales, and the three
remaining levies by the Prince of Wales. It
is very satisfactory to find that the Queen has
thus yielded to the affectionate remonstrancesof
her people, and there is no doubt that Her
Majesty will be abundantly rewarded by the
renewed affection of her people for any efforts
that this return to publie life may cost her.
Some Savings' Banks returns, just published,
on the motion of Sir Henry Willoughby, show
that the number of depositors in Savings' Banks
is more than a million-and-a-half, of which
about 28,000 are charitable institutions or
friendly societies. The total amount of savings
is more than forty millions starring, and all but
two millions of this vast mars belongs to indi-
vidual depositors. The greatest number of
deposits are in reins of less than £3, but the
greatest amount proceeds from sums over en
and under £lOO. When we get up to stuns
"exceeding £200" we find lam than 2000, de-
positors, and only £400,000.
The forthcoming Armstrong and Whitworth
competition will begin with the 12-ponnders of
which Mr. Whitworth has three mumle-loadera,
and her William Armstrong three shunt muszle-
loaders and three breech-loaders. The last are
very unlike the breech-loading guns in the serviss,
haring wedges instead of vent-pieess. The lead-
coated shot are also different, so that the result
of these experiments will be no proof as to the
efficiency of the guns in the service. Moreover,
the charge of the 70-pounders is not to sinned
11 lb. This low charge, of counts, will not be
any test of the strength of the guns, and can
scarcely be expected to produce much effect upon
armour-platee of the thickness now used for
ships. The competitive rifled guns making under
the directions of the Ordnance Select COW mittee,
which are intended to fire 25 lb. of powder, and
are of the same aim as Mr. Whitworth's 120-
pounder, and the fifty 71 ton guns, with 7 in.
bore, are finialied, but it is not likely that they
will be tried just at
.present. They consist of
guns constructed OD the French system, Len-
caster oval system, Scott's centric.' system, and
a gun to fire Mr. Jeffery's and Mr. Britten's
shot.

Tbe British p•per-makers have published a
report upon the past and prompt ootion of the
paper trade. They state that for • long time
pest the consumption of paper has been in excess
of the supply of mat.rl4 and that the difference
was made up by foreign paper. Previously to
186.3 an import duty of 3d. per lb. was laid upon
foreign paper, and was nearly prohibitory. In
that year the Ouctome duties were revised, and
the ditty was reduced to a penny, which was
thought • fair counterpoise to the foreign export
duty on rap. The report then goes on to eon-
pakft of the sadden removal et the import duty
CS paper, sod states that is 000sequouco the

ports of foreign paper have largely increased,
and are now nearly 10,000 tons • year, whereby
the price of paper in this eountry has been re-
duced from 15 to 20 per cent., while the price of
rags has risen 15 per cent. The report concludes
by declaring that unless this state of " unfair
competition" is altered, "the paper trade of this
country, as • staple trade, must inevitably be
destroyed."
A letter has been received in this country
which happily denies the recent report of the
de•th of Dr. Livingstone. The report is at
least eight days later than the previously received
account, in which Dr. Livingstone's death MIS
rumoured.

Both parties in America are DOW anxiously
engaged in arranging their national finances and
making provisions for future contingencies. In
the North the amount of bullion in the hands of
the Government is set down at a little over five
millions sterling; and Congress has given Mr.
Chase power to dispose of any little surplus that
may remain after the payment of the interest on
the National Debt. The idea that there will be •
surplus is founded upon the fact that customs
dues are by law paid in specie, and that the
receipts are expected to be in excess of the
amount required for the dividends. The pro-
spective bearing of the market led some persons
to Imagine that gold would fall; but the Times
special correspondent says all concerned have
been apathetic, and gold remains at its old
price. The new gold bill re•imposes the old re-
strictions of paying the national dividends in
gold, and setting aside one per cent, of all gold
received as • sinking fund, and, therefore,
financiers do not espied such • surplus in Mr.
Chase's hands as will enable him materially to
alter the market The principles of the currency
bills just pawed in the Southern Legislature are
• rapid funding of the amount outstanding, and
provisions against exceeding certain limits in
future. Up till April Ist notes may be funded
or etc:hanged for bonds at four per cent. ; but
after that period they will be subjected to an
increasing tax up to 100 per cent. Government
is to be supported partly by the proceeds of these
heavy tax bill., partly the issue of bonds at
six per cent upon e security of certain
Customs dues, and lastly, certificates of indebt-
edness may be issued at the same rate as the
bonds, and transferable. In addition, however,
to these currency regulations, there is another
bill for raising the tax upon trade and business
ten percent. above that levied in 1883 ; and if
the profits of a company exceed twenty-five per
cent, during the year, inch excess is to be taxed
twenty-five per can:. Every deacription of pro-
perty is also to be taxed five per cent. By this
means it is expected 250,000,000 dollars will be
raised. General M'Clellan and General Fremont
have been named for the Presidency by greet
meetings in New York, and a conspiracy has been
discovered in Kentucky, having for its object the
annexation of that state to the Southern con-
federacy. The military DOWD received during
the past week is somewhat scant. Gene
Halleck, at his own request has been relieved of
his duty as General-in-Chief, and General Grant
has assumed the command of the Federal armies.
The Confederates, it is said, are making extensive
preparations to &sums the offensive. General
Lee, whose location during the winter has been
on the Rapidan, has left that encampment and
is moving towards the Shenandoah valley. Pre-
sident Lincoln has called for 200,000 men, and
if that number be not raised by the sth of April
the deficiency is to be made up by a draft. The
New Yorkers, we are told, look very coolly on
the draft, as they do not believe it will be
enforced.

The ineffectual bombardment of Frederic:is by
the Austrians has been followed by the repulse
of the Prussians before DuppeL On Monday
morning, at three o'clock, the Prussians made an
attack on the whole of the Duppel lines, and suc-
ceeded in penetrating between the trenches,
The Danes, however, soon dislodged them, and
thonwh the Prussians returned three times to the
charge they were often repulsed by the Dane.;
and after seven hours' fighting the Prussian
soldiers refused to obey their commanding offiders
in advance. The Prussian force was consequently
compelled to retreat One of the Danish iron-
clad', the Rolf Krake, took an active part in the
contest, and seriously damaged the Prussian
right.
The Daily News wills attention to the fact that
we have had to go to Frankfort to leant the telt
of the notes by which the Oonference is sum-
moned fbr the 12th inst. lint Denmark has not
Consented, and upon this fact the following re-
mark appear :

independall I
nd deliberktt

It rams an off-hand way of treating an in....,
State to common its neighbours to °nine and &libel,—
oe it. affairs, and disunite of Its rights, withoet Ant
getting it. &theni to such • proothdiog. For the 140
Itoirty years Liberal Europe bee rocarded with increases
dete.tation the systom of regul.tins the affairs of isrle-
pendent States in conferences and congremm, where the
people most concerned the not consulted, and it is
nothing less than initonishment to And en English
Liberal Ministry reviving that space. It is no jestia-
cation of such • course to allege that it is tikes iiith
the desirable object of reaetrthlishing Piero. Tbe
interests of pew Are those of civilisation and humanity,
sod they cannot be too highly valued. But if then
be one way more certain than another to stimulate
cupidity Lod ambition and breed were it it to let
it be seen and understood that Monarchs with large
armies at fomented may invade the territory and over-
turn the institutions of neighbouring States with the
certainly that, when they have thus acquired • strong
vantage ground, they will fled • great neutral State
like &Island, which entertains the strongest conviction
of the iniquity of their doings, reedy, netertheleis—or
perhaps all the moth oh that amount— to come forward,
dietaries that the immediate advantages of pew are
more precious than .11 other considerations, and co-
operate with the aggressors in making • settlement on
the basis of their violent neurpations.

Umb Is.l
imarei!kaire 1

A private letter from Paris spas*, of great
dissensions in the Imperial ()shine!. The Minister
of the Intiwior is the 0•11110 of them on the pre-
sent occasion, and he is accused of mismanaging
the recent elections. The law journals of France
condemn the conduct of the Judge it the Armand
trial.

DORCHISSTEL—Prnsto Coax MAnsur, April 2.
—There WWI bat • limited supply of wheat at market
to-day. Trims ruled Ann, at late rates. Marley in
stems of demand, and lower prima had to be setealttod
to where sales were formid. Oat and beans beitinel.
Seeds in denten& M fell Melt .
Ma. Selloa's Entostroar ULM on Saturday wee
npplied with 150 bead of fat beasts, barreners, heifers
with calves, fat cadre% and 800 fat sod store sheep Lod
lambs, and nearly emery lot ehaard lids. Reef of
prime quality sold high, realising from 124. to 12e. Ad.
per some ; good Mallon (mane and in demand) fetched
lid. to 50. per lb. ; Doers temples 415., mother bogs
Ai., Lod fat lambs from 295. to 324. per bead. Good
belle's and calves maintained high i•rieos, sad were
dimmed of at from £l5 to Cl 7, sod Owns ri inferior
quality at from £9 to £l3. Some *bons Duni yeerliag
• bred by Mr. Whittle, et Teller, and Mr. Mielsolls,
of Symington, brought from £l4 to £lB par head. At
tbe bnris repoeitory in the afternoon a number of
horses were bkawiee disposed of.
The following Bsatslloo Orden hare just bee.
issued :