The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-06-12 00:00:00

iOnroet efinuttl Exprtos.

TUESDAY. JUNE 12. VET.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

There are strange stories in London Society about
disagreements between the German and Austrian
Ambassadors to the Court of St. James's. Count
Munster and Count Benstz, it is said, are scarcely on
speaking terms, and now, to add fuel to the flame, the
Berlin Peg has come ont with a leader charging the
Austrian Ambassador with an intrigue to form an
Anglo-Austro-French alliance against Russia and
Germany. The Ikstin Post must snispoise the Austrian
Ambassador to be a very Mephistopheles of intrigue,
to be able to form such a isombination as this. It
never had I chance of coming about, and probably
exists only in the imagination of a writer for the
Reptile Press of Berlin. The last few days, indeed,
have shown that Austria is quite aware where her
true interests lie, and is going to run no risks to up-
hold the integrity of Turkey.

Poor Lord Russell—Punch's little boy who chalked
up 'No Popery!" and made furious outcry about
Ecclesiastical Titles and then ran awaz4galarm at '
the sight and sound of him daring dee ot a bad
name for writing scolding despatches— words
which, like the famous Durham Letter, were not
followed by action. It wan the late Earl Derby who
fastened upon him the phrase of "meddle and mud-
dle." We fear that the present Lord Derby is falling
into the name bad habit, scolding Russia, and address-
ing to her noleinn warnings which mean nothing at all.
What could be more undignified than describing the
Suez Canal as our way to India? Even the Standard
has nothing to nay in excuse for Sir Stafford North-
cote withholding the textof Lord Derby's last dispatch.
The truth is that C.nint Schouvaloff has just arrived
in thin country bearing a reassuring reply on the part
of Russia, and that till the reply in made public it is
inexpedient to publish the dispatch. But, unless for
Lord Beaoonsfield's restless mind, we cannot see the
use of thin riding in like the champion at the corona-
tion banquet, and throwing a glove down against all
comers.

. -
When Mr. Gourley proposal cornea in, which we
hope will be with a, little delay as possible, the HOUSEI
will have an opportunity if considering what will be
something like a policy? It is nothing less than the
hold project of purchasing the whole of the Suez
Canal, with the adjacent territory, and thus securing
undivided ponaessioo of our water-way to India. This,
or something like it, must be carried out, if we are to
be free once for all from these endlesa complications
which are cure to spring up so long as the relations of
Egypt. Russia, and the Porte are in their present
anomalous condition. As it Ls Egyptiana are in a
feverish state under an impression in the City that we
shall have to buy up the Khedive, and make him •
kind of tributary of ours. He already holds the star
of India; all he wants is a banner to make his vssaal.
age complete. The other banners are not to be
delivered in India till January next, and there will
therefore be time to embroider one for the Khedive.

Some terrible atatistician has made a calculation
that the Niagara Falls represent a force which would
work all the mills in Amerioa now worked by steam;
and an enterprising Yankee I. said to be in negotiation
for the right to apply a portion of the Falls to the
purpose of working a large manufactory. After this,
we expect to hear of the Gulf Stream being applied
to facilitate industrial pursuits. But just as our
American cousins are prepared totnrn the picturesque
into filthy lucre, so we Britiahers put a money value
upon human greatnesa. President Grant will prove a
perfect mine of wealth to the caterers for the public.
He is honoured by invitations to all kinds of enter-
tainment., and, if he promise to go, hie coming Is
advertised, so that more go to see him than the sight
which be goes to see. He is ready for everything,
and before hi. departure he will doubtless have done
no little "'tarring in the Provinces. Bath manages to
keep before the public. It indulges in a frightful
accident one day; and in an ex-President of America
the next.

Among other invitations to our distinguished guest
which he has already fulfilled, and will have canoe to
remember, that which drew him northward to Cotton-
opolis is, perhaps, so far the mist significant. It is
in Manchester—taking that city to represent, as it
does, a large district—that American interests are
principally concentrated, not alone for its cotton-
manufacture, but as well for its vigorous representa-
tion of the mechanical arts, and those particularly
which create new possibilities both of trade and
of warfare. The military geniiim of General Grant,
as it was developed in the reduction of Vicksburg,
showed its fullest strength in the uses to which the
science of engineering was put, and it can excite little
surprise, therefore, that Sir Joseph Whitworth's great
works were an object f early and keen interest. The
ex-President, under the guidance of Colonel Dyer, one
of the members of the finu, saw somewhat of the
latest weapons of offence with which this country
arms its naval force—not in the form of guns, merely,
but in the more formid . able of torpedos. Fresh
from the inspection of torpedos of American invention
in the navy yards of the United States, he could
institute direct comparifions an to the merit of the
destructive encines there and hue. The results of his
cursory examinations I need not attempt to detaiL
But I may, with,int unduly complimenting Colonel
Dyer anti his fellow-partners, distinctly state that
General Grant was shown some novelties, of which
more will be heard than our foes may deem pleasant,
when the hour of need shall arrive. The alarmist
cartoons of Pend, on this and kindred topics are not,
I would venture to say, by any means sound sources
of popular information or inspiration.

The rea.on of Lord Redesdsle's elevation to an earldom
is now apparent. unless lam much mistaken. The noble
Karl is Chairman of Conimittees, to which a salary of
£2,50, is attached. The post is somewhat of a prize, no
thinks Viscount Ashton', better known as Lord Bury,
who is a member of one of the hereditary Whig families
which have lately changed colours. The Keppels who
came over with Dutch William, and have been staunch
Whigs till the other day, are now Conservative. Lord
Beaconsfield, who has a discerning eye for merit, par-
ticularly of this kind, has arranged accordingly for the
reversion of lend Redesdale're place going to Lord Ashford,
who has for IMMIC time been called to the Upper Home
daring his father's life-time. The old Earl of Albemarle,
who was bon in 1799, is one of the oldest peers in the
House.

The tricks of trade command one's despairing admira-
tion. The other shy I was concerned to read an article
in a London paper about a terrible scourge Which threatens
the vineyards of Spain and Portugal. The solemn fact
IT/ as announced that the phylloxera had crossed the
Pyrenees, the phyll"x•ra being • species sf insect quite as
formidable as :night be conjectured from its designation.
The mission of the-e little creatures is to destroy the vine
crop, and my mind filled with dismal forebodings when I
read that without interference of Government, or some
other special Providence, no vats would Now with the
vintage of PO, and Sherry and Port would rise to Chem-
Peelle prices, Shortly afterwards I saw a statement that '
some noisome fungoid growth had attacks d the vine-roots
In Spain, and the disease had assumed alarming propor-
tions. At this news • deeper melancholy settled upon nir
spirits. Two or three days later I visited • friend who is
• wine merchant, and with a grave and sympathising face
condoled with him on the disastrous prospeit. He burst
Into laughter. "My dear fellow," mid he, 'lt is all non-
sense. Every now and again something of the kind gets
into print. It is only a trick i.f the trade to frighten
people and make them buy in heavily. Our agents give
us the best accounts of the vintage."
' Mr. George Honeyes engagements at the Prince of
Wales's concludes in September, when the run of "Lou-
don Assurance" will have ceased. fle will return to the
little house in Tottenham-atreet to play Keeler, when it
shall please Mrs. Bancroft to revive "Caste." Mr. Clayton
has been engaged to join the Prince of Wales's company.
It is hoped that Londoner's will presently have an oppor-
: tunity of seeing Miss Eveleen Rayne, one of the prettiest
I and brightest of our very young actresses. (As • matter
of detail, her name is Ryan.) Miss Milton in another
young actress litho has given abundant promise of •
brilliant future. Mr. J. S. Clarke dechues an American
I offer: and Mr. Mapleson intends to revive the ballet in all
its ancient magnificence.
Anous.