The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-05-16 00:00:00

WEYMOUTH.

THE BOAT CLUB—On Monday evening the annual
supper of the members of the Boat Club took pales
at the London Hotel. A very excellent repast was
put on the table by Mr. and Mrs. Howe, to which
a respectable company sat down. The chair was
taken by Mr. Septimus Mace, under whose pre.
sidency a most pleasant evening was spent.
THE LATE SIR WILLIAM FREESTON'S YACHT.—
On Tuesday afternoon Mr. Cornmins submitted to
auction the schooner yacht Bonita, late the property
of Sir William Freestun. There was a very
numerous assemblage, but as some difficulty arose
respecting her stores the sale was postponed until
the 23rd inst.

DREADFUL STORM.—Early on Tuesday morning
our town, in irommon with other parts of the country
was visited with a most terrificetorm, accompanied by
thunder and lightning. The rain descended in torrents,
and the lower portion of many houses was completely
inundated. The only instances of damage caused by
the lightning which we have heard of, occurred at
the residences of Mr. Barrett at Rodwell, and at
Captain Cosens's in Ponltney Buildings. At the former
place the electric fluid entered Mr. Barrett's bedroom
and shattered the mantle piece, and tore the walls,
but fortunately the occupants escaped without injury.
In the kitchen the electric fluid threw down several
articles from their resting places. At Captain
Comma' house the lightning entered two bedrooms,
in one of which the captain was sleeping, where it
ran along the bell wires which it melted, and in
falling burnt the carpet,toilet covers, and other
articles. Besides the alarm which this occasioned,
no personal damage was done.
MR. AVANT'S CONCERT. —On Monday Mr. '
Avant's evening concert took place at the Assembly
Room of the Royal Hotel. The audience was
select, the reserved seats being tolerably well
filled. The concert comprised vocal and instru•
mental music, the vocalists, being Mrs. Avant
and Mr. Sweeting. Of the former we cannot
speak too highly. Nature has endowed her with
a rich, clear, musioal voice, and her style of singing
is such as cannot fail to be appreciated. The ballads,
too, which she sing are of a most refined order, and
we have never heard her to greater advantage.
Gabriel's ballad, "The Skipper and his Boy,"
was the first she sang, and although an encore
was not demanded, certainly it was due. In the
song " With the carol in the tree" (Bennett) Mrs.
Avant appeared to charm every one, and the song
was re-demanded. The songs of " See'st thou at
even," and." A Fisher-Maiden, I," also sung by Mrs.
Avant, were admirably given, and received their due
share of approbation from an appreciative audience.
Mr. Sweeting was the other vocalist, and sang some
songs in a very creditable manner. The instrumental
portion of the concert was carefully and charmingly
rendered, Mr. F. W. Smith, of Dorchester, execut-
ing some difficult music on the violin in a very
masterly manner. Mr. Gobbing as usual, performed
wonders on the harp, and enchanted the audience by
its inspiring strains. Mr. Avant fully sustained
his reputation as a pianist, and. altogether the concert
gave the greatest satisfaction.
BOROUGH SESSIONS, Tuesday. Before J. A.
Devenish, E. Bayly, and R. Cotterell, Esqrs.
Tux FLOUR-STEALING CASE. Robert Carter was
again placed in the dock on the charge of stealing_
flour from his master, Mr. Talbot.--Prosecutor said
he never had had reason to suspect the prisoner's
honesty, and hoped the Bench would deal leniently
towards him.—He was sentenced to one month's
hard labour, and cautioned to be more honest for
the future.--ALLEGED BREACH OF THE PEACE.—
Thomas Sherry, landlord of the Military Arms, was
charged by John Campbell, of the Royal Engineers,
for using language towards him, calculated to incite
him to commit a breach of the peace.—Mr. Hill
appeared for defendant —Complainant stated that on
Tuesday evening, about a quarter to six, he was near
Barrack-lane, when he met defendant. He stopped
him and asked if he was going to pay • small sum
he owed him. Witness told him that the money
was ready for him if he called for it, but
he would not enter his house. He then called
witness a -- thief, a rogue, and ecoundrel.
Witness said he would. take steps to prevent him
calling him such names, when defendant replied
"that he would tell his (witness's) wife that he was
a thief and scoundrel, and that he could prove him
to be such. Witness's object in bringing the case
forward was to prevent defendant from insulting
him in the street —Mr. Hill contended that there
was no case, as it had not been shown that corn'
plainant was in fear of his life from defendant, and
the Bench could not therefore bind him over.—The
defendant expressed contrition for what he had
done and withdren the imputation. The case was
therefore dismissed.
DEATH OF CAPTAIN BENJAMIN MORTON COLSON
FISTING. —On Wednesday this veteran naval officer
expired at his residence, Hill House, Radipole Road,
at the advanced age of 71. This gallant officer hai
seen much service, and was born at Andover in
April, 1794. le was fifth son of the late
Commander Henry Fasting, RN., brother of the
late RtNar•Admiral R. W. G. Testing, RN., C. 8.,
Captain Thomas Colima Fatting, and of Captain
Henry Testing of the Royal Artillery. This officer
entered the navy on the 2nd of May, 1805, as
midshipman on board the Prince' 98, commanded
by his uncle, the late Sir Richard Grundall, K.C.B.
From the close of that year until the receipt of his
that commission, 19th February, 1812, he served in
the Mediterranean in the Queen, 98, flag ship of
Lord Collingwood ' • Niger, 32, Captain James
Hillyar ; Ocean, 98, also bearing the flag of the
above nobleman ; Kingfisher, 18, Captain Ewell
Tritton ; Fame, 74, Captain Abel Ferris; Thais, 20,
Captain Isaac Ferrierea ; Christian VII., 80,
Caledonia, 120, flag ships of Sir Edward Pellew.
He then joined the Eagle, 74, Captain Charles
Rowley, and on the 17th of September, 1812, having'
succeeded Lieutenant Augustus Cannon, who had
been mortally wounded when in the command of
the three barges of that ship, he creditably effected
the capture and destruction, near Gore, on the coast
of Italy, of two gunboats, and of 21 ont of an armed
convoy of 23 sail, although the whole were covered
by • four-gun battery, and the beach was lined with
armed people. Whilst in the same ship, Mr.
Fatting, besides taking part in many other boat
affairs, served at the reduction of Fiume, in the
batteries at the seige of Trieste, and at the capture
of the principal towns and ports on the ousts of
Istria and Dalmatia. Just before the fall of Trieste
a gun, within pistol•shot of the enemy's works, had
been dismounted from a high platform, and by order
of Sir Charles Rowley had to be at once replaced.
To do this • man was required to ascend a temporary
shears erected for the purpose, thereby exposing
himself above the parapet to the hot fire of this
short range. Mr. Peeing volunteered for this most
dangerous service, and his action so attracted the
attention of the French officer commanding the
battery he was engaging, that with noble and true
chivalry he would not take his life, but ordered his
men to cease firing till he was again under cover.
On the battery surrendering in the evening Mr.
Testing was warmly embraced by the noble French-
man and many of his gallant companions. He also
with a detachment of seamen under his orders
landed, and for six weeks co-operated with the
Austrians, under Count Nugett, whose thanks he
received for his conduct at the capture and subu-
nit:l4i! defence of the town of Comacchio and Fort of
• Varies. From the 29th of August, 1814,
until the 23rd of May, 1816, we find him employed
in the East Indies and China on board the Tyne,
24, and Wellesley, 74, both oommanded by Captain
John Harper; Owen Glendower, 36, Captain BXian
Hodgson. In one of the adventures recorded in
"Deeds of Naval Daring," Mr. Fasting was the boy
hero who captured • vessel full of French soldiers with

a few men in a jolly boat. His next appointments
were-141h April, 1819, to the Cameicon, 10, Capt.
William James Mingaye of the home station, and on
the 17th of January, 1823, to the Brazen, 26, Captain
George Wickens Willes, under whoni, on the
coast of Africa he assisted at the capture of eight
armed slavers, and the liberation of 998 persons from
bondage. He was promoted from the latter vessel
to the rank of commander on the 22nd of December,
1826, but remainid on half.pay until aim dnted on
the 11th July, 1837, to an inepectorehip in the coast-
guard, in which service he continued for the usual
period of three years. His last appointment was
30th of October, 1841, to the Apollo troop ship. He
was however obliged in consequence of an attack of
fever and ague to invalid on the 15th of November
following, since which period he has not been em•
ployed. Captain testing, who has obtained the
acknowledgirbnt of the Admiralty for plunging into
the sea and saving lives of persons who had fallen
overboard, was nominated • K.H. for hisservices on
the coast of Italy, in January, 1837. In 1823
Captain testing, then Lieutenant of H.M.S.Catnelecia
received a letter of thanks from the Secretary of
State for the Home Department for having discovered
a conspiracy against the life of His Majesty the
King, which was in consequence frustrated. In
1851 he was made a Post Captain on the reserve
list. He married in July, 1827, the only daughter
of T. B. Wright, Esq., of Henton Blewitt, Somer-
set, who with eight children now survives. Of four
sons three are in the public service, the youngest, his
only naval 80D, being acting sub-lieutenant ou board
H.M.S. Excellent, in Portsmouth harbour.