The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-01-17 00:00:00

Varliainnitarp VaPms•

INCILASI OF LOSACT.—The returns presented to the
Essex Quarter Sessions last week exhibited a melan-
choly increase in the number of patients in the county
lunatic asylum. In 1854, the total was 307 ; in 165 P,
3t4; in 1856, 370; in 11457, %l; in 18^ 406; 46d in
1659, 419. The proportion of female patients con-
siderably exceeds that of the other sex, the munkeye
being 242 women, and 177 men. In the Norfolk count/
asylum there are at present 331 patients—viz., 146 aeme
and 185 women. This is an increase of eve as tempered
with the ['receding quarter, and of about 30 during the
last six years.

STATE OE CRUM IX THE ELSTILII DUITILICT.—Tbdi
Quarter Sessions which have been nearly completed in
the eastern counties have exhibited on the whole the
Name small amount of crime which has been observed
during the last two or three years, although it should
be borne in mind that offences conimitted by persons of
tender years and charges disposed of summarily do not
now come before these tribunals. At the Essex county
sessions the cheirman, Mr. T. C. C. Marsh, said the
number of cases was rather larger than usual, but they
were not generally crimes of • heavy dye. At the
Ipswich borough sessions the Recorder, Mr. David
Power, Q.C., expressed lois satisfaction that considering
the population of the town the calendar was so small.
At the Woodbridge division of the Suffolk sessions the
number of prisoners exhibited a small increase, but at
Beccles the chairman, Colonel A. Shaft° Adair, con-
gratulated the grand jury on the state of the calendar,
which contained only a few portant cases. At Use
Cambridgeshire sessions it was reported that the daily
average number of prisoners in the county gaol hail been
37 as compared with 40 at the corresimnding period of
last year. At the Isle of Ely eess.ons, sit ‘l. isbeach, the
chairman remarked on the email number of prisoners
committed for trod, and expressed a hope that serious
crime was gradmilly decreasing. At the Huntingdon-
shire session.; it, was reported that the number of
pri.urs in confinement, although iii sonic respects 'sot
thawing the same indicats,.sss of a diminution in crises
as in the last quarter, had stall been moderate. At the
Cambridge Borough Sessions there were only two canes
for consideration. At the Norfolk county sessions it
was reported list the daily average number of prisoners
in the county gaol during the pad quarter had been 67,
being 12 less than at the corresponding period of last
year. The number of priaonere for trial at the sessions
exhibited, however, A slight illcreAme, as compared with
last year. At the Norwich Millen{ there were 16
prisoners fur trial, and the Recorder (Mr. O'Malley,
Q.C.) said that, looking at the great population of the
city, the calendar presented reasons for congratulation.
At Colchester there were only two or three cases for
trial, and at Great Yarmouth the business was equally
light. In Lincoln:ollre the chairman of the Kesteven
sessions (Sir John 'frollope) spoke in terms of congratula-
tion on the paucity of busineas and the trivial nature of
the cases ; but at the Holland sessions the court was
occupied a considerable time in disposing of the calendar.

THE DECIMAL COINAGE COIINIMION.—On Wednes-
day was published a blue-book of 250 pages containing
an appendix to the drat report of the Coinage
Commissioners. It includes the evidence of sundry
witnesses, answers to circular queries from various
countries, answer.' to Lord Orel-stones questions by Mr.
J. H. Alexander, Professor Know, Lieutenant-General
Paisley, K.C.8., RE., and Mr. T. Itatlibone ; a letter
from Professor De Morgan (May, 1857), and a has of
books and pamphlets on decimal coinage. The eon-
deumation of the system of decimal coinage by the com-
mission is now matter of history.