The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-12-29 00:00:00

been withdrawn behind the Eider, leaving the
greater part of Holstein to be occupied by the
troops of the Confederation. At a disimose, this
has do doubt the appearance of weakness or of
misgiving as to the justice of • portion of Den-
mark's claims. The King, however, hopes to
win the Pane by help of the wisdom and good
faith of Europa, not to secure the admiration of
the firebrands by dashing and desperate play.
By telegram from Copenhnen on Christmas-day
too, we learn that England and Russia continue
to exercise a pressure upon Denmark. Both
Powers represent that Prussia insists; upon the
abolition of the November Constitution, and
that in default of such being done, ahe
will withdraw from the London protocol
of 1862, whereby war might arise. Eng-
land and Russia have also declared that
they will not in such Me assist Denmark.
France and Sweden, on the contrary, would
seem to favour the claims of Denmark. Never-
theless, in conformity with the wish of England
and Russia, the King sought to obtain the
sanction of the Rimmed to a suspension of the
Constitution and to miserable the body for the
purpose. The Ministers thereupon declared that
they could not assume the responsibility of such
a step, and would rattier accept war, even should
Europe have Denmark isolated. They con-
sequently tendered their resignation, which the
King accepted. What the result will be, • few
days will probably prove; but WO cannot
hide from ourselves the fact, that every move-
ment appears more warlike on the pert of
the Germans and the soi clis-Liberal Chamber of
Prussia.

From America we learn that the Federal and
Confederate Congresses were both opened on the
7th December, and that the messages of the
two Presidents were delivered es soon as the
Congresses were oonstituted. The message of
Preadent Lincoln states that all the foreign re-
lations of the Government are friendly, that the
crisis which threatened to divide the Union is
put, and that it is his determination to adhere
strictly to his Emancipation policy, so long as
he remains in his present position. His message
was accompanied by • proclamation, suggesting
terms for the re-construction of the Union. It
offers an amnesty, which reads very like •
proscription, the exceptions being all who
have served the Confederate Government
in any capacity above the rank and file. He
boasts of • navy of 588 vessels, including 75 iron-
clad steamers, but he does not state the average
tonnage of his fleet But as the number of
seamen is 34,000, we find that the average of the
crews would be little more than 50, whence it is
clear that the navy is composed chiefly of small
craft for service in rivers and defence of harboura.
Before going into the particulars of the enormous
expenditure, the President congratulates Con-
gress on the cheerfulness with which the burdens
incidental to • great war have been borne.
'ha is rather premature. They have not
yet got to the pinch of their burdens. They
are now in the happy spending stage where
promissory notes keep things going merrily, but
the terrible settling day must come, and then
will be tried both credit and the endurance of
the people. Their resource' are inieed great,
and so too are the drafts they are preparing on
them. President Davis's message i pitched in
a minor key in accord with Lincoln's greater;
yet, while regretting the loss of Vicksburg, Port
Hudson, and other reverses, expresses continued
confidence in the ultimate success of the Con-
federate arms. He speaks with much bitterness
of the unfriendly feeling conduct of foreign
nations, and particularly accuses England of
marked partiality to the North in her decisions
regarding the blockade' and in her difference of
conduct in regard to the purchase of supplies by
the two belligerent.. He says that • prompt
and efficacious remedy for the present condition
of the currency is necessary, and recommends
taxation instead of a further issue of bonds and
treasury notes, as the best means of raising
funds. He concludes by saying that since the
Federal' have refused the proposals of the only
peace possible between them, the only hope of
peace is in the vigour of their resistance. From
the seat of war we learn that General
Lougstreet has retreated from Knoxville. A
report was current at Nashville that his rear
had repulsed General Sherman, who was pursu-
ing him, with heavy loss, but there was no con-
firmation of the rumour. Both the armies on
the Potomac were preparing to go into winter
quarters.
The address of the French Senate in reply to
the speech from the Throne was presented to
the Emperor on Monday. His Majesty, in reply,
said that "good" was the moving power of his
actions, and that both at borne and abroad he
desired the appeasing of passions, concord, and
union. He directed, he said, all his wishes
to the moment when the great questions
which divided Governments and peoples
would be pacifically solved by European
arbitrament. This wish was that of Napoleon,
when he wrote from St. Helena, that "to fight
in Europe is to make civil war." Might not this
great thought—an Utopia in the part—shortly
become a reality? He felt it an honour to pro-
claim • principle tending to dissipate the
prejudices of another age, and asked the senate
to unite with him in efforts to obtain that noble
end. We are glad to find the French Emperor
thus beginning to cherish a more peaceful policy.
He has gained his experience at the coat of
lreeping up those colossal armaments which
have made him more feared than loved or
trusted abroad, and have forced others into like
expenditure, until every industrious, hard-
working man in Europe, may, as has been tritely
remarked by • contemporary, be almost said to
be burdened with a ftill-armed fighting soldier
upon his back, encumbered with whom he has to
dig the moil or labour in the factory. The French
people too are begining to be cured of their
passion for military glory. This was lucidly
shown, both in the report on the loan read in the
Corps Legislatif on Wednesday the 23rd, and in
the manner in which that report was received by
the Chamber. " Let us be able to resist the allure-
ments of Glory," said that document, " and
enjoy what we have acquired. With this we
can honourably enjoy the peace which the
people so greatly need. Let us have peace,
and the state of our finances will ameliorate. We
shall then be able to expend large sums upon
public a fruitful source of wealth and
prosperity our population." We are told
that during the raiding of the report much ap-
probation was manifested in the Chamber.
The recent elevation of the Bank rate of dis-
count has ended with the most wonderful
rapidity in augmenting the resources of the Bank
of England. On the 2nd December the rate was
raised to 7 per cent., and on the Bth it was raised
to 8 peroent ,and the contrast between the figures
of Wednesday the 3rd, and those of Wednesday
the 23rd, is almost without precedent. By the
list account the Banking Reserve wa5£9.210,252,
and the Bullion was £14,217,087. On the 2nd
December the Banking it verve was £6,875,850,
and the Bullion £13,048,475. being an increase
in the Bank Reserve of £1,634,402 and of
Bullion £1,188,592. In the face of such slur-
prising and enormous increase in their means,
the Directors of the Bank, as practical men of
business, were compelled to reduce their rate of
discount 1 per cent.

works.
of

DORCHESTES.—Pricifso Con WAszer, Saturday.
—Owing to Ur Christmas holidays them was not so
large an attendaoos at our market r usaaL The supply
of wheat was large, sad fraud fully previous rotes.
The supply of barley was short, and trade ruled vary
doll Oar sod beans about the MUM am Mr week.

ML Eneon's CATTLE REPOSITOIT, Saturday, Deem.
her 22.—At this fortnightly sal* there was but a very
small supply of animals. Trade, however, was brisk,
and the lots were all disposed of. Mattes sold at Sid.
per lb., whilst beef fetched 12a. a score.
ALL SAINTS' CAUSCH.—Hermous were preached at
this Church on Sunday, by the Rey. C. T. Proctor, on
behalf of the Natosnal itehoole, when tke collections
amounted to upwards of £l2.
THE WEATHia.—Tbe reading of the tbermornettst at
Dorchester for the past week is as follows :