The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-30 00:00:00

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDIINT.

Lord Palmerston's reply on Friday aight to the
question put by Sir John Walsh, touching an alleged
dispute between the Government of the traits.
States and our own on the matter of the depreda-
tions of the Alabama, created a great deal more
excitement in the game of Commons than anywise's
else. Yon will have seen that the Prince of Wale"
was present, and that an unusual number of illus-
trious Lords and visitors thronged the galleries,
The strong muster is, however, a proof of the interest
which our relatiorui with America excites in kigk
places. London, however, is just now entering upon
that phase of excitement which culminates every.
where at Epsom on Derby day. Everywhere yen
go there are signs of preparation for this Cockney
festival, and perhaps on this account people are lees
affected by the sensational news from America
announcing the capture and probable fate of President
Davis. I regret to see that so little credit is given
to the magnamimous character of the American
people. Bets are made almost as freely upon the
"favourite' as upon the fate of the fallen chief of the
Confederates. lf we are to take the New Tore
Time* and Herald as fair exponents of popular
feeling in that city, there can be little doubt that th•
unhappy man will be executed. President Johnson
has already declared his policy with regard so
treason, which he considers the worst crime that oaa
be committed; and Jefferson Davis will naturally be
treated asleaderof the "rebellion,"or treason against
the United Statee. The New York Herald says
that "the deliverance of Davie, to the gallows will
only help to consign the rebellion to infamy ;" but
there is another thiag that it will do—it will arouse
the worst passions of the Confederates, which might
otherwise subside.

It has been the practice in Parliament, "from a
time whereunto the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary," for the name of the member whe
moves a count-out to be kept secret. There Is some
reason for this. It is so often a mere party dodge
or personal trick that by common consent it has been
agreed to keep secret that which, if revealed, would
often be productive of very unpleasant oomments
outside the House. But of late there ham grown up
a strong feeling that this practioe haa been abused,
and probably nine out of ten persons outside the
walls of Parliament are of opinion that it would only
be fair that the name of the mover of a count-oat
should be known, as well as the originator of any
other motion or amendment. Mr. Ayrton has
taken a very bold stand on this matter, and instead
of creeping behind the speaker's chair, and calling
his attention to the fact that 40 members were not
present, from his seat openly announced that the
requisite number were not there; the result being
that the louse of Commons last Wednesday came
to an abrupt, but thoroughly honest termination.
Despite the innovation, it ia worthy of remark
that the Times tried to keep up the old sham, and
instead of giving the name, as the other papers did,
it tells us, in the old style, that "an hon. member,"
&c. I believe that now an innovation has bean
once made, several other members will follow in the
same course; the reporters will help to break the
spell of secrecy; and perhaps ere long the habit of
secretly counting-out the House will be altogether
abandoned.

The Westbury scandals oontinue the talk of the
clubs, and the unscrupulous conduct of the Lord
Chancellor in distributing his patr nags to incom-
petent members of his own family to the exclusion
of men better qualified to All the public offiew, ia
becoming a source of disquietude to the Government.
Lord Palmerston, it is said, now bitterly regrets
haviog passed over Vice Chancellor Wood in his cboiee
for the wool-sack, and the Premier is currently
reported to have expressed publicly indigeeat
disgust at the course pursued by the Lord Chaeciellor.
Any other man would certainly long ago have
tendered his resignation, but the Lord Ghanoellor is
not thin-skinned, and evidently cares little for
public opinion.
The excursion mania is setting in furiously. Mr.
Cook, that fussy gentleman who appears to consider
that everybody ought to become • teetotaller and
rush to Paris or Switzerland and back as one of a
drove of inexperienced travellers—has an excursion
in view at an unconscionably cheap rate. To Paris
and back for so much, including a week's board may
be some people's idea of enjoyment, but I contemn it
is not mine. I cannot say cdi profanunt magus, but
I have an objection to travel in droves under the
guidance of an excursion conductor; but every one
to his taste. Most of the railway companies have
also advertised cheap excursions and during the
next week or two there will be tens of thousands of
people coursing over the country, here, there, and
everywhere, at very cheap rates. But, now we are
in the midst of the excursion season, the disagreeable
thought occurs that nothing has been done since but
year to lessen the probability of accidents to excur-
sion trains, and that, etlxicially so far as communi-
cation between passenger and guard is concerned, we
are in gatu quo. The probability is that before the
summer is over we shall have some tremendous
"accident" with a serious lose of life, and then some
of those plans which have been talked about for
communicating, in twee of danger, with the guard
and engine-driver, will be again talked about and
laid aside. Perhaps some terrible mash will occur
through the speedy succession of trains, and than
people will remember that this has been the cause of
numerous "accidents" already. The truth is, that
we want a Railway Board—a body of business men
untramelled by railway red tape, with power to
insist on certain alterations which oommon sense
dictates. At present the railway interest is toe
strong in both Houses of Parliament, however, for
any hope of this result. That railway companies
should pay compensation for accident to person or
property, and that they should even be made to pay
if necessary, is right enough ; but there is no di..
putiug the fact that companies are often much im-
posed upon. I heard some time ago that • man and
his wife were alone in • compartment of • railway
carriage when a collision occurred, that they were
unhurt, and that the man immediately struck his
wile a blow in the face with a view of compensation
for the injury through the "collision." How true
the tale may be I cannot say, and can only hope that
the wife immediately retaliated with intermit, and
that they obtained no compensation. Bat another
fact I can vouch for. A friend of mine was slightly
injured in • collision at • London terminus. She
had no intention, however, of making any claim,
the personal injury being of a very trivial character.
The next day following the collision the lady received
• letter from a "Solicitor" offering to conduct her
ease for her, and telling her that she would un-
doubtedly procure damages. Either this highly
respectable solicitor or some touting agent bad
discovered her name and her address on her travelling
trunk, and hence this digraoeful and thoroughly
so professional application. A man who would do
this would possibly not scruple to manufacture
suitable evideece to order. - _

The bill for remodelling the London Fire Brigade,
which may be considered as pared, will effect a
great improvement on present arrangements. The
grant of £lO,OOO • year from the national funds can
warmly be considered unfair when the existence of
ac many national institutions in London is taken bite
account, while some little return for this will be had
in the lightening of the burdens of insurance-office;
whose business and proprietorship extend all over
the country, bat who now pay heavily towards the
support of the Fire Brigade. We ars to have more
stations, more engines, and an increased force; the
wh,de will be under the control of the Metropolitan
Board of Works; and *mail rate in aidwjfl be
levied on house property in the metropolis. It is a
great pity that the lire-escape system could not
have been amalgamated with the Brigade, but this
perhaps will come.
Among the lamest° be elided to the civil list are
those of Mai. Cobden, UM Leech the widow of
the celebrated orientalist, and Mr. William Howl*.
The pension of the first of these will amount to
£l,OOO a year, and there are few who will feel
disposed to question the advisability of the grant. It
is true that twice in his lifetime Richard Cobden was
the recipient of the national bounty, once to the ex•
tent of tens of thonsa.nds of pounds; but the English
peoply rightly believe that his services after this
magnificent presentation were far more reliable than
tie acknowledgment of them. It may not be
generally known that Mr. Cobden invested hie
mousey in an unproductive American railway, suit
the grant to his widow and children is thus rendered
necessary. With Mr. Leech, I think that
talented gentleman should have been jut before he
was generous.; and that the enormonesuma of moue;
be earned by his pencil, should have been partly
devoted to the requirements of his family. What
Mr. Howitt is to be pensioned for—unless it be for
his good service in the ono of spiritnalietn-.-1 am
at a lose to imagine. In this matter hifhtr; but
served to bring ridicule upon the abardi A 101,114
6q catravapiatly adrooted