The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-08-24 00:00:00

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LORD PALMERSTON IN SLIGO. —A Specisl meeting of
the ooininissioners of the town and harbour of Sligo wee
held on Monday to consider the propriety of presenting
Lord Palmerston with a congratulatory address on the
occasion of his present visit to his estates in that
uounty.

LORD EGLINTOUN 151 TFIlt NORTH.—The dinner Of
the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society, now
holding its annual meeting in Derry, came off on Wed-
nesday night, and was in every respect quite successful.
The company was numerous and influential, and the
reception of the Viceroy was quite enthusiastic. The
Earl of Clanoarty presided, and, the preliminary toasts
having been given, the Chairman proposed the health
of "The Lord Lieutenant and prosperity to Ire-
land," which having been drunk with great applause,
his Excellency responded in warm terms.
Tea latog LABOUR MARKET.—WhiIe labourers in
the county of Kilkenny are engaged in a crusade against
machinery as the prime cause of distress in that quarter,
the Tuant Herald announces that in the west the scale
has altogether turned in their favour. From being a drug
iu their market they are become so scarce that they can
almost command their own. terms. The agricultural de-
mand in England, too, adds to the scarcity, and induces
thousands of the peasantry of Mayo and Galway to mi-
grate to that country to the great discomfort of the Irish
farmers.

LORD PALIIBREITON Ire SLl6o.—Lord Palmerston's
reception by the tenantry on his Sligo estates Was only
suoh as might have been anticipated after an absence of
several years (ruin Ireland. A local Tory paper states
that parties of all political opinions oombined in the
warm demonstrations of respect paid to the ex-Premier
on his arrival on Tuesday, in company with his agent.
"As • landlord," observes the Sligo Intkpe , ndent, ' he
is held in esteem by all who know the relation that sub-
sists, between Idol and his tenants, and though his
Lordship is not in the habit of granting leases to his
tenants, every one feels as secure in his possession self
lie were the holder of a long lease." Another loeal
authority (the Chronicle) has this revelation respecting
the future of Lord Palmerston :—" We are enabled to
date from an authority that is perfectly reliable that
Lord Palmerston is about to retire from public life.
He has agreed to do so on the urgent entreaty of Lady
Palmerston ; and a growing defect in his Lordship a
power of hearing had also had a share in inducing him
to bring his long public career to a close. The noble
lord, when he shall hid adieu to the excitement of Par.
liairientary life, intends with Lady Palmerston, to take
op his residence at Cliffony, near this town ; and In-
struction, have been given, and we believe arrangements
are now being made, to erect • suitable mansion there
for their reception.

•
Me. BetlltGllON IN BILLFAIS.—Mr. Spurgeon made
his first pulpit appearan: e in Ireland on Tueaday 'WOW
lug, in one uf the Preabytcriau al:urchin in Belfast. His
audience is described sh being numerous and respect-
able ; but to judg• from the tune of the local journal"
hie snoods' sea preacher has not, so far, been complete.
The Northern Whig ooncludes a notice of his sermon,
which is reported at come length, in the.. terms —"We:
cannot deny that Mr. Spurgeon is a remarkable mant
and we do nut wish to deny that he hiui element" of
power and forcible expreulon wllloh commauda the at-
tention of hla audienoe, and of which many more rev.-
rend divines way envy him the possemion. The insane,
however, by which he has attained his oelebrity are
queittionable, and, without harahnese, we may be per-
HAW to suspect that this world had full as 'ouch to do
with Mr. Spurgeon.' ministration" as the neat. Prom
pulpit discourse§ such as his we 0411110 t hope for any real
or lastinclionefits to *Gaiety, or to the canoe of Christi-
&thy. The functions of the Apostle are in Aim too
mush overlaid with the anlaus of the mountebank to be
produotivo of any permanent linpreselon. The brilliant
passages in his serinons, and the hunk of eloquence to
which lie occaelonally glade uttoranoe, are ilidly marred
by the dramatised scenes of vulgar irroverenoe ; and, If
ledt night's Jlecourse be asaumed ea a fair sample, the
thoughts of self intrude too constantly to Immo the eon-
gregation with any belief in the &isolate aineerhy of
the preacher's declarations. We lee betted, therefore,
to repeat, that in our opinion Spurgeottiam h an sutra-
We eliould rejoice, indeed, to see among oertaln •
sections of the olergy an awakening to the compre-
hension of their true functions as Gospel ministers. A
revival aniong our modern preachers is andlv wantod,but
fipurgeoniorn will not do. Snob a style of pulpit teach-
ing would, hi the end, be doinoralising to wile% and
damaging to the progress of pure rel4rione teeth. Every
eicitdinent produces reaction, and if everybody were to
go in for pedant, the reaction 'mid hitertihik's