The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-09-10 00:00:00

PORTLAND.

Tea Cot/mitt Ftaar.— We learn that the channel
fleet is under orders to proceed from Plymouth to the
00111 t of Ireland, and may be absent from Portland Roads
for some time.

eADUALTY.—Tbe Sally, of and from Sunderland, for
Nantes, Came into Portland Roads on Thursday evening,
with loss of mast and other spars, having been naught in
• squall between Star Point RDi Torbay whilat eriden•
vouring to make the latter place.

Finer Ramos Tocut.—At the Guildhall, on Friday
the tolls of the Ferry Bridge were Nueimmitted to
public auction by Mr. J. liilledge, and after a spirited
omnpetition were purchased by Mr. Goodden, of
Poole, at £515, being an advance of £ll5 upon the
previous year.
TEA MID CHORAL SIRVICL —IS is not often we have
the plearing of reporting choral services in Portland,
but we ore very happy to do no on the present occasion.
Thin :eeriee was held in the Congregation Chapel on
Wednesday evening. Many visitors and some residents
on the island are not aware that at Chiswell, a small,
but neat chapel belonging to the Congregational body is
erected, and is well fitted up, beautifully lighted,
ventilated, good sittings, organ and trained choir, and
where the service, are conducted in as devotional a
manner an would meet the wishes of the most orthodox.
The object for which the tea mid choral servioe was
given was to raise money sufficient to pay for the repairs
of the organ, and which expenaes were greatly increased
through the eras imposition of a 'trolling musicign, who
by his smooth tongue, flattering manner, the abeente of
all other tuners, be., succeeded in obtaining an order to
time and place the organ in thorough repair. It is
hardly necessary to add, that the instrumeot was much
Injured, and as to being tuned, it was not playable, and
after he had done with it the instrument was nearly
useless. Fortunately for the man he soon made his exit
from Portland, or else the friends would have had him
prosecuted. Mr. T. Avant, sea., of Bridport, was then
employed to place the organ in thorough repair, and to
' meet Ns expenses the present service was given. To
I all deacons and others, who have the charge of the
Various organs in this district, we warn them against
being imposed upon by any man travelling under the
name of the eminent organ-builder, Mr. Walker. If no
other good arises from this report than to prevent
I similar impoatures on friends, we shall feel we have not
I reported in vain. RCIEMiIIE the subject of the tea,
the trays were given by the ladies and others connected
with the church and congregation, and the friends who
sat down to tea numbered about 150. After the tables
were cleared the choir took their pleas in the gallery,
the Rev. W. Sherren, the new pastor of the ehureh,
taking the chair, and after stating the object of the
meeting, he said that although there were but few
speakers on the platform, yet the company would
expeeieeca no lose, for the speakers for the evening
would be found in the gallery, the only object for the
speaker, was to give • little breathing time to the
gingen. He then called upon the choir to give their
first piece on the programme :—Chorus. "Oh, Paradise,"
Faber; anthem, " Behold. hoer good and joyful,"
Whitfield •, SOlO, " Chstritv," Morart ; anthem, "Thine
Lord, Is the greatnegs," Kent; solo and quart-Um,
"Incline thine ear, Himmel; anthem, "I will lift up
mine eye.," Whitfield ; anthem, "My God, look upon
me," Reynolds ; anthem, "Oh, praise God in his
holiness," Weldon; sacred son, "Pilgrims of the
night," F-ber. The Rev. Mr. Lewis and Mr
Berlina, of Weymouth, in the interval, gave each a
short add rem and congratulated the choir on the
admirable manner in which they sang the pieces, and
hoped they would give plenty of time also to creation of
the psalmody of Sunday worship. After the Owe of
the programme the chairman proposed a general vote of
thanks to the ladies who had •o generously provided
trays, to the gentlemen who had assisted in the details,
to the choir and the organist Mr. Waters, who had
devoted so much time in forwarding this gervio* end
hoped that the debt on the organ, which was the
object for which he had worked, would be wore than
removed. After singing the Old Mindredth, the meeting
was dismissed with the ;anal benediction. We may
also add that we were much pleased at the manner in
which the whole arrangements for the service were
carried out, the their gang very nicely, and we mast my
thee Cie young ladies in the front looked charmingly
also. We think that these meeting. tend to produce •
stets of happy unity in churches and congregations, and
hope 'ere long ao have again to report on a similar
occasion in connection with other places of worship.
We have heard that the debt has been removed, and
that a small balance remslos in hand for which we con-
gratulate the friends interested.—Communicafed.

THE PORTLAND GRANT MONEY.
The controversy on this subject has lately been
renewed in our whining, and we can readily under-
stand that it would afford satisfaction to all con-
cerned, if a clear understanding could be arrived at,
as to the duties and responsibilities of the trustees,
and whether or not the inhabitants have any right of
controlling the disposal of the money. Partial
statements by correspondents only tend to render
more diffinult an amicable determination of the
point, mooted, and we almald be glad to sa. a opts-
pled* statement of the situation, by means of
which only • proper judgment can be formed.
This may be effected if any of the inhabitants
who have copies of charters in referent* to
the grant money, Court Lest documents, or other
papers touching the subject, will forward the same
to us, or to oar agent in Portland, Mr. JoUiffe, book-
seller, that we may publish them, and so obtain,
little by little, for the benefit of the whole inha-
bitanta of Portland, • complete view of the subject,
upon which it will be competent to form an opinion
ea to the merits or demerits of the existing dispute.
We see no other way of arriving at the requisite in-
formation, save by this appeal to the inhabitant.,
by their desire for the common good of Portland. to
contribute as they may be able to the imperfect
knowledge now prevailing on this important subject.
We have mien favoured with the following statement
on the subjeet, and it seems to as forms a good
starting point for further inquiry. Here it is
In reference to the Roya,l Grant to the inhabitants of
the Royal Manor of Portland, it is difficult to describe
it under any of the printed heads as arranged in the
asoompanying paper. It is clear that a Royal Grant to
the inhabitante of Portland existed prior to the restora-
tion of King Cherie. 11., in the year 1660.
During that year, or shortly afterwards, it appears
that the inhabitants petitioned the Crown on the
subject of Up, Royal Grant, and His Majesty was
graciously pleased to take the application into con-
sideration, and the following was embodied in the new
grant to the inhabitant.
"We, taking the sore info our princely considera-
tion, and calling to mind the constant loyalty and
affection of the said Island to us, and our Ws royal
father of ever glorious memory, have bethought fit to
hereby