The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-01-14 00:00:00

LITERARY EXTRACTS.

GICOSON CANNING AND HIS MOTHER.—It is not a
little curious that the "Peerages" make no mention of
this lady by name, the editors contenting themselves
with the remark that the future Premier's father, by
an imprudent marriage incurred the alisPleissare of his
parents, and the penalty of disinheritance. The name
of the lady was Costello. After the marriage her
husband entered as a student at the Temple ; but
borne down by the neglect and oppression of his family
—who boasted to have been settled at Foxcote, in
Worcestershire, from a fabulously remote period— he
soon died in almost destitute circumstances. After his
death his widow married Mr. Reddish, of Covent
Garden Theatre, and being ,again left a widow, took WI
her third husband Mr. Hun, by; whom she had two
daughters. It is most honourable to the memory of
that great statesman that when, on retiring from
oinoe, he beciutie entitled to I pension, he settled it on
his poor relations instead of pocketing it himself. It is
still more creditable to him that, amidst all his
struggles for political advancement and the warfare of
party strife, he never forgot his duty to his mother.
Re duly corresponded with her to the last, never
0 . ing to write to her on a Sunday, which day he
alw s made it a rule to set aside for that purpose. So
inv 'ably punctual was he in this respect that even
during his special mission to Portugal, though not able
to forward his letters regularly, he still continued to
write every Sunday, and sent sometimes two and even
three letters by the same packet from Lisbon.—Once a
Week.

A MISTAJEZ Ilf IDENTITY.—On Tuesday • little
amusement was created in Dale-street, Liverpool, by a
crowd which was following in the track of two well.
dressed but somewhat remarkable-looking gentlemen,
who were walking arm-in-arm. In answer to inquiries,
it was stated that the gentlemen were Messrs. Mason
and Slidell, the Confederate Commissioners, who, it was
said, were on their way to the Town-hall to pay their
respects to the Mayor. At this intimation the crowd
accumulated rapidly, and to the Town-hall the strangers
proceeded with due gravity. Here it was learnt that
the " illustrious visitors" were Torn Sayers and his
circus manager on their way to attempt an arrangement
of some technical difficulty by which the erection of his
circus in Dale-street was prevented. On learning the
true state of the matter the crowd dispersed rather
suddenly. The attempted negotiation by Mr. Sayers,
it may be stated, was unsuccessful.

PICHNIVOTION 0? CHISISTIANN IN CHINA—The first
martyr to the cause of Protestant Christianity in China
has fallen, and the circumstances attending his death
remarkably illustrate the utter disorganisation of this
overgrown and effete empire. Six years ago, a native
named Ch'es, living in the city of Poklo, which is
about 100 miles from Hong Kong, visited the missim-
anes at the latter plane, and asked for instruction in
the truths of Christianity, of which he had heard some-
thing from a oolporteur. In each succeeding year he
came again to Hong Kong, bringing other converts
with him, and Dr. Legge and the Rev, John Chalmers
have in their turn visited him at Poklo, and being
greatly gratified by the intelligence and good conduct
of the Christian community whom he bad gathered
round him. Up to the middle of last year they had
been unmolested by their heathen neighbours, but then
a spirit of persecution arose, and, as the interference of
the governor at Canton seemed to have no effect, Dr.
Legge started for Polko on the 14th October with •
special officer deputed by the governor. As soon as
the local magistrates heard that he was on his Way,
they set themselves to do that which the governor's
k
despatches had been quite ineffectual in bringin about.
Their behaviour to 1)r. Legge was most obs pions ;
and they agreed to all that he said to them ith only
too great facility. The gentry, too, were all smiles ;
and the doctor left Poklo with the belief that the
peace and safety of the Christians were secured.
Scarcely, however, was his back turned when a horde
of countrymen, constituting a new army of rebels, were
gathered at a neighbouring village, and, vowing
vengeance on foreigners and Christians, they seised
some of the magistrates, captured Ch'ea, and, after
two days of torture and insult, threw him into the
river. The Christian converts have all been !obliged to
fly, and some have made their way to canton. The
rioters were led by Soo-Hoyu, who had all along been
the opponent of the Christians; and their flag bore
the inscription of "Security to the Government and
extermination to the barbarians." The movement
seems to be extending, and the authorities at Canton
are in no little alarm about it.
_ .

.....
The eclipse of the sun of the 30th ult., which was
rendered invisible in Europe, by the unfavourable state
of the weather, was perfectly visible at Algiers, where
crowds assembled on the quay and on the top of the
great mosque to witness it.