The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-21 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

MONDAV.—The Chancellor of the Exchequer said be
could not make his financial statement before Easter,
but would do no probably on Thursday, April 27.—1 n
reply to Mr. Scully, Sir G. Grey said it had been the
intention of the Government to have require I the de-
livery of Mary Ryan, and the Belgian authorities were
quite willing to accede to the demand, on the ground
that she had been illegally removed from this country,
but under the circumsteuces bf this case they did not
now intend to do so.—Several questions elicited.the in-
formation that Captain Beall, the Confederate raider,
was not surrendered by the Canadian Government, but
wascaptured at New York,and that the Imperial Govern-
ment would not interfere with the Canadian authorities
in the case of the raiders now on trial. —On a motion for
going into committee of supply, Mr. S. Fitzgerald called
attention to Colonel Jervois with reference to the de-
fences of Canada. He expressed his regret that the
American Government hart felt it necessary to terminate
the agreement for the neutrality of the lakes, but under
the circumstances they were justified in doing so. He
wished to know what the Government was doing
towards placing gunboats on the lakes and the St.
Lacrence, and if they intended to throw up earth-
wet Ins for the defence of the important points, and above
all to facilitate communication with Canada when the
St. Lawrence was closed in for the winter. He believed
an American firm in England had received an order for
40 steam launches, with double screws, of very light
draught, each carrying one rifted gun. Her Majesty's
Government was aware of this, and be wished to know ,
if they were preparing to meet this fleet of wasps, as
they were called, five of which had already been for-
warded to Americie—Mr. W. E. Forster ridiculed the
idea of fortifying the whole extent of the Canadian
border. He repudiated the idea that peace in America
would be followed by an attack on Canada. He knew
that the fear of this was very prevalent, but it was
as utterly groundless as the French panic a few years
ago, of which every one was now heartily ashamed.
Mr. Cardwell said he could give the assurance desired,
that the relations between the two countries were per-
fectly friendly, and with equal confidence he could state
that no demand had been made in the case of the
Alabama. In anticipation of the notice for the termi-
nation of the convention relating to the lakes, a pro-
posal had already been made for a small-armed force to
be maintained by each Government, and as soon as
notice was received for the termination of the recipro-
city treaty, Her Majesty's Government would propose
negotiations for a modification of it. The Imperial
Government would undertake the defence of
Quebec, and if the Canadians would fortify Montreal
they would arm both places. The best defence of
Canada was the fact that a war with Canada was a
war with England, in which the Imperial force would
be exerted in every possible manner, but the reel
defence must depend on the people of that country,
aided by the nucleus of British troops. —Mr. Disraeli
did not impugn the conduct of the Government of the
United States, which had conducted itself in
the midst of greet irritation with great energy
and discretion. The people of the United States were
an eminently sagacious people, and although liable to
the passions which actuated mankind, would hardly
seize the moment r f exhaustion to commence an enter-
prise with a Power equal to themselves in resources.
The democracy of America was not like that of Europe.
The latter was a territorial democracy, and had an
interest in the soil, and was not so excitable as a middle
class which speculated in shares and considered its pro-
gress. He believed the democracy in America would be
more ready to welcome its armies ta useful labour than
to send them on dangerous enterprises. He believed
the civil war would produce a complete revolution in
the spirit of American institutions—political and social.
If the North subdued the South it would have to deal
with a diszontented and sullen population. It would
have several millions of slaves, free in deed and equal in
law, but with no sympathies with the white population.
These elements of discontent at home would require a
strong and central government. The United States
would have enough to do without provoking
foreign wara-eMr. Lowe pointed out that it
was impossible to defend Canada from a direct
attack by the overwhelming masses which the
Americans could bring against it —Lord R. Cecil said
the protests of every speaker provel that he had not
the slightest idea of the 'United States attacking
Canada, and were not reconcilable with the debate itself,
and would occasion the belief in Europe that we felt
e could not defend that colony against the Americans,
who had the will, and possibly the power to take it.—
Mr. Bright said it was well known to a merican states-
men that England could not successfully defend Canada.
There was a party in the United States who desired to
attack Canada for the sake of inflicting humiliation on
England; but he did net believe there was anyone who
desired to attack Canada for the sake of attaining it.—
Lord Palmerston could not regret the discussion, for
the opinions expressed could not fail to be useful.
They had shown an earnest desire to maintain the most
friendly reletions between the United States and Great
Britain. Secondly, that as long as the colonies were
desirous to maintain their connection with the mother
country that connection should be maintained. He
utterly repudiated the idea that this country was jealous
of the United States, although men differing in their
theory of government did not feel the same admiration
for the system is America as Mr. Bright. He, however,
agreed with him that there were deeper feelings in the
United States towards the country from which their
ancestors came that would prevail over these temporary
feelings of irritation, and that the friendly relations of
the two countries were in no real danger. Still there
was no reason why our fellow-citizens in North
America should not be placed in a state of defence, for
the best way to obviate attack was to be able to resist
it.—The subject then dropped.—Mr. Hennessy called
upon Mr. Newdegate to apologise for the charges he had
brought against Dr. Ullathorne and the nuns in War-
wickshire.—Mr. Newdegate justified his observations,
and challenged inquiry. —After some remarks from The
O'Donoghue, the subject dropped.
TUESDAY—On the order of the day for the second
reading of the Lancashire and Yorkshire and Great
Eastern Junction Railway Bill, Lord Galway moved
that the bill be read a second time that day six months,
on the ground that it was introduced in competition
with a scheme of the Great Northern Railway Company,
which ha,' been sanctioned by Parliainent, and had not
yet had a fair trial.—Af her considerable discussion the
House divided—For the second reading, 121 ; against,
162 ; majority, 41.—The bill was accordingly rejected.
—Sir G. Grey stated that no order had been issued for
the seizure of South American beef when exposed for
Rate to the public, either in London or Liverpool.—
Lord C. Paget said experiments had been mede with
Captain Coles's cupola by firing at it with 40 and 68
pound shot, and although several indentations had been
made in it, its working had not been disturbed.—The
Marquis of Hartington stated that the Volunteers had
memorialised the War Office on the subject of relieving
Velunteer officers from liability to serve on juries, and
the subject was now under consideration.—Sir F. Kelly
moved for a select committee to inquire into the claim
of his Highness Prince Azeem Jah to the title and
dignity of Newab of the Carnatic, and the claims of his
Highness under a treaty entered into in 1801 bets een
the East India Company end his Highness Aneern ul
Dowlah.—The Solicitor-General said no good could
result from the apnointment of a committee, and its
only effect would be to overwhelm the Government
with claims from other mock sovereigns in India.- Mr.
Dunlop said the arguments advanced by the Solicitor-
General convinced hi ethat gross injustice had been done
to this iinfortunate4amily.—After considerable debate
the House divided, when the numbers were—For the
motion, 38; against,- 53; majority, 15. The motion
was accordingly lost. —On the motion of Sir J.
Pakington the Select Committee on Education was
nominetd.—The report an Ways and Means was
brought up and atreed to.
41ouse sat but little over an
hour, and Use discussion turned chiefly on Irish affairs.
THURSDOY.--Tlme Committee on Petitions reported
that the petition presented the other night on behalf Of
the claims of a eertein Indian Prince, were, to a large
extent, forgeries, while others were fictitinue—ln reply
to Sir W. Gene ay, Mr. Milner Gibson 'toted that the
question of securing communication between railway
passengers and guards would be duly considered by the
Railway Cemmiesioners recently appointed.—ln reply
to Sir J. Trelawny, Mr. Cardwell said that the Govern-
ment hod no intention to break faith with the natives
of Now Zealand an far so regarded the treaty of
Waitangi.—The depressed state of the Coventry ribbon-
weavers was brought before the House by Mr. Treherne,
but Mr. Gibson raid the matter was altogether beyond
Government redress.—The House then went into Com-
mittee of Supply, and the Marquis of lisrtington in-
troduced the army estimates, the estimate for the ensuing
year was £14,348,447, or a reduction of £495,641 in the
estimate of last year. But if the suits returned to the
treesttry for army services were inelnded, the toted
saving would be 'ft34,839. The year 1862-3 was the,
year of the highest estimates, when the total w
£16,600,000. The reduction since then was in 1868-4
£590,000; in 1864-5, £1,316,000, and in 1865-6 It
would be £1,715,000. Compared with 1859-6) there
was an apparent redaction of £26,250; but of the dis-
embodied militia, *tick was not then in the estimates,
and atm vote of the Miltineeers; which had lame into
silage that year, there was 8 real reduction of
. The reduction in the number of men pro-
ses 4,000, of whom 1000 would be artillery and

.ne

3,000 infantry. The reduction in the artillery it
was found could be effected without reducing the
efficiehey of the force by the new or-genre tion
of tat a-m of the service, for the reliefs could
be kept up by 16 instead of 20 batteries at home,
and as it eould allow of an incre se in the iroportion
of .ffi -irs, which before war too low, there a ould be •
PoSi' increase of the efficiency of the service c en.
pani s. The reduction in the infantry was effected
partly by remodelling the depte. companies. Two
regime-its would te brought home from India, and five
front New, Z-aland during the course of the year, and
the rt sult would be that there would be at home 35,700
infantry in bettalines, and including the Indian and
Colotti,l del Ste 45,920, against lset year 32,500 in bat-
tedious; and including the di Ott, 43,520. The total
number of battalions of infantry was 141, of which this
Year there were 40 at home, 46 in the Colonies, and 55
in India. Next year there would he 47 at home, 41 in
the Colonies, and 53 in Torii& With respect to clothing,
the vets would show what amount was expended in the
Government establishments, and what by contract. The
increase in the vote for the 'Volunteers was 26,640, and
arose from the eetisfsctory increase in the number of
efficiente qualified for the extra allowance. The solution
of the problem of heavy ordnance had not vet advanced
An much as he had expected last year, and he was afraid
that it was not yet by any meana solved. The Arm-
strong gun had been adopted up to the 40-pounders, and
no • held gun there was no reason to regret that step.
Sir W. Armstrong had since made a series of experi-
ments, end the result war that the Government hell. ved
that the 12 ton 9-inch gun and the 6-ton 7-inch gun
were perfectly adapted to any service likely to be re-
quired of them ; but taking warning by the result of
'teeing manufactured too many of the 100-pounder
Armstrongs they were reluctant to give an order on a
large scale for these guns this year, in the confident
expectation that they would by next year be able to see
their way better, from the results of the experiments
going on, and ;he trial between the Whitwerth and
Armstrong guns, which had been delayed from causes
not within the control of the Government. Attention
had also been directed to the necessity of supplying the
army with breech-loading rifles. For this purpose •
committee had been appointed, and gun-makers had
been invited to send in plans for converting the Enfield
into a b-eech-loader. at • enst not exceeding £1 per
weapon. About forty responded to that invitation, and
seven or eight systems were selected, with respect to
which the c .minittee had only reported yesterday, but
if an emergency arose the army could be easily armed
with new weapons, and the process could be auickly
and cheaply effected. The gun cotton committee had
not yet reported. After some details with respect to
other votes of no particular intereet, the noble lord con'
eluded by moving the first vote of 21,324,779. The
Government believed this reduction could be safely
wade; and as regarded the armaments and other
queetions, they were well aware they had not settled
them. All they claimed credit for was for having
worked steadily and earnestly with a view to do so.—
G. nerd l Peel expressed an opinion that alter the large
sums of money which bed been entrusted to the present
Government since it came into office, the results,
especially as regsrded the ordnance and arming of the
forces, were by no means sidisfactory.—After some
further discussion tire vote was agreed to.
FRIDAY. —On the order for going into committee of
supply, Mr. P. Hennessy moved to resolve, that where-
as the Russian Government shows its determination to
mit at nought the engagements it contracted in 1815
respecting Poland, and whereas the respect of those
engagements was the condition on which the powers of
Europe consented to recognise as lawful the posseesion
by the Russian Czar of the greatest part of ancient
Poland, this House cannot any longer abstain from
proclaiming that the violation of those engagements
implies the forfeiture by the Czar of all right to such
dominion, and also of all right to any further pay-
ment by this country of the annual sum conceded to
Russia under the nsme of the Russo-Dutch Loan, that
payment having been, in 1815, undertaken hobo made
during the space of one hundred years in consideration
of Russia faithfully co-operating in the maintenance of
the stipulations of the same treaty of 1815.—Lord
Palmerston strongly opposed the motion, and after
some debate the motion was withdrawn —Mr. W. E.
Fomenter asked what steps, if any, the Government had
talien,or intended to take,to carry out the recommenda-
tions of the committee appointed to inquire into the
arrangement between the Foreign Office and the Board
of Trade in reference to the trade with foreign nations.
—The question elicited a discussion of some length, Mr.
Lavard explaining the course adopted by the Foreign
Office.— Mr. C. Forster moved that the minutes of the
evidence tiken before the committees on the Exeter,
Yeovil, and Dorchester Railway Bill, the Salisbury and
Yeovil Railway twill, Branches) Bill, and the Blandford
and Burton Junction Reilway Bill, in session 1847, and
on the Mid Devon and Cornwell Railway Bill, in session
1861, be referred to the committee s. hie fikehmepton
Railway (No. 2) Bill.—Agreed to.

VALUABLE LOOT AT WILMINGTON.—It has been
generally supposed that the capture of Wilmington by
the Federal. was rather a borren affair so far as property'
was concerned, but from a letter received in Liverpool
it would appear that the booty was of consideralle
value. The writer, an officer in General Terry's forces,
who sonompanied General Butler's original expedition
against Fort Fisher, states that he at first supposed that
the Confederates had carted away every bale of cotton,
case of tobacco, and barrel of resin or turpentine, but
after an examination of several hours there were dis-
covered, stored in cellars, mostly belonging to those who
had engaged in blockade running in its palmy drys, no
less than 12,000 bales of well-pressed ootten, 7,000 cases
and boxes of good tobacco, 17,000 barrels of turpentine
and resin, sod an immense quantity of goods which had
run the blockade, including cavalry saddles, boots and
shoes, lead, saltpetre, preserved meats, Au He also
states that the citizens are on the whole for the Union,
and that he finds no difficulty in transacting his business.
THE LORDS' COMMITTER ON THE EDMUNDS' SCANDAL.
—The London co respondent of the Belfast Newsletter,
referring to the Edmunds' case, says :—The Govern-
ment have already done all in their power to stifle
inquiry, end turn the investigation into a solemn
farce, by packing a committee which must give them a
majority, no matter what may transpire. Eleven noble
lords have been nominated, hut of these four are paid
members of the Government, and two ex-Whig
officials! The six peers whose duty it will be to
represent the Whig administration include Berl Gran-
ville, Lord President of the Council (£2,000 a-year) ;
the Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty
(£5,000 a-year); the Earl of Clarendon .(Birche's friend),
Lord Privy Ss-al (E 2,000 a-year); and Lord Stanley of
Alderley, who holds the sinecure of Postmaster-General,
with £3,000 a-year. Then comes the Earl of Dalhousie,
late Whig Secretary at War; and Lord Taunton, late
Mr. Lsbouchere, President of the Board of Trade.
Against this phalanx will be arrayed the Earl of Derby,
the Duke of Montrose, the Earl of Donouglimore, the
Earl of Malinesbury, and Lord Chelmsford, all of whom
(with the exception of the Duke of Montrose) held
office in the late administration. With the deciaion of
a committee studiously framed on as to give the Govern-
ment a majority the country cannot be satisfied. The
lair Ivey of selecting the committee would have been to
have taken five or six noble lords from the prominent
members of both sides, and then to have added a couple
of peers frbin the cross benches, who would have been
absolutely indifferent to party ties, and whose unpre-
judiced votes would have turned the balance on which-
ever side they believed justice and honor to lie. No
one can, of course, impugn the honor of any individual
member of the committee; but we all know that com-
mittees (like corporations) do things in their collective
capacity which they would never dream of doing if the
responsibility were not divided.
ANGRY SENATORS.—It is reported that the Marquis
de Boissy, having been offended by the terms applied to
him by M. de Heckeren the other day in the Senate,
sent the following short but vehement letter to his
political antagonist :—"After what has passed between
us yesterday either you or I must die; I choose pistols,
and we fire at a distance of five feet." Viscount de is
Guerronniere, as the Marquis's second, was the bearer
of the letter. In order to put an end to the affair, M.
Troplong intervened between the two senators, and
succeeded in inducing them to offer mutual explanations.
DEATH OE MRS. GEORGE STRPRENSON.—The death
Is arnounced of the widow of the celebrated railway
engineer, George Stephenson. The deceased lady, who
died at Minehead, in Somersetshire, on the 6th inst.,
was Mr. Stephenson's third wife, and was married to
him only a few months before his death in August,
1848; she has thus survived her illustrious husband

,
nearly seventeen years.
THE NEW FEDERAL FINANCg BENIBTER.—Mr. Huh
M'Culloch has scupted the Secretaryship of the
Treasury. In the case of any other man the appoint-
ment would have excited but little curiosity. As Mr.
Fessenden was a dilution of Mr. Chase, the new secre-
tary would have been looked upon as a dilution of Mr.
Fessenden. But Mr. Ili'Culloch enters upon the scene
under different auspices. He is, what few Americans
are, a sound political economist. He has studied the
philosophy and theory as well as the practice of finance.
To read his letters and treatises any one who did not
know that he WBS an American might imagine he was an
Englishman, or a ScAchman, who had never embraced
the delusion so preva'ent on this side the Atlantic, that
as the resources of America are not half developed, it
is competent to American stetesmen to run riot in wild
experiment, and set at defiance the dearly-bought ex-
perience of older communities. Mr. M'Culloch is, as
far 188 his published opinions testily, a worthy successor
of Adam Smith, Mill, Ricardo, and his quasi namesake,
, the late .1. R. fd.'Oulloch, and might, from the doctrines
1 he has enforced, be aesumed to have imbibed financial
wisdom from the lies of the late Sir Robert Peel, and to
have learnt the principles at free-trade at the feet of
Richard Cobden. —Times, New York Letter.
EIrCUTION AT DURHAM. Matthew Atkinson, a
pitman, WAS on Thursday executed at Durham for the
murder of his wife, at Winlaton. on the 18th Sepkem-
ber last. The murder was committed under circum.
stances of the greatest brutality, and was tried before
Mr. Ju-tice Slice. Upon being asked why sentence
should not be passed, he said his wife had led biro a
most unhappy life. He was drunk at the time of the
occurrence. Although several of the neighbours
knew that he was beating her, and heard her screams of
"Help !" " Murder !" continue for upwards of an hour,
they did not attempt to interfere, from his known
character for brutality and ruffianism. Some hours
after he called some neighbours in,. and said. '' I have
..dtase for her nom." After his sent, floe he arid, address-
ing the judge, "Thank you, my lord, I am prepared to
die at any time." At five minutes past eight o'clock on
Thur,day morning the prisoner, accompanied by the
, usual ilEicials, appeared upon the scaffold, Astern being
the excetutioni r. When all the paraphernalia necessary
to carry out the execution had been adjusted the bolt
was withdrawn, and directly the rope waned, and the
body fell with as appalling round. From the crowd
around rose the loudest cries at this untoward event.
The unfortunate man was immediately removed within
the prison until a fresh rope could be obtained. At
25 mioutes past eight o'clock Askern again appeared
upon the scaffold with a fresh rote. On facing the
multitude beneath he was greeted with a perfect storm
of hisses. A few momenta after, the chaplain, followed
by Atkinson, again mounted the scaffold. The latter
%termed on the drop firm and collected, although a
blood-red murk round the neck testified to the terrible
tug which it had experienced before the breaking of the
rope. At-kern spent a great deal of time in adjustiug
the new rope, and pulling the noose tight, an operation
which drew forth from the mob an hurricane of hisses.
The dying struggles of the unfortunate man lasted men.
fortunately some minutes, in consequence of the thick.
ness of the new rope. During the whole of the
shocking spectacle the excitement was very greet, and
the efforts of the police were severely taxed to control
the popular indignation.