The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1878-04-16 00:00:00

TUESDAY. APRIL 16.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

We understand that the recant Garter ban been
ol6red t 4 and declined by Lord Derby.

There is a member of the House of Commons who
for the last three years has been locked up in • lunatic
asylum. There is no prospect of his ever being able
to resume his function of legislator among those who
repro...ant the united wisdom of the country, and yet,
oddily enough, there exists no method by which his
seat can be vacated.

Vanity Pair says :—We are informed that in
gratitude for there having been no opposition raised
by the English Government to the establishment of
the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in Scotland, Leo
XIIL intends to send Queen Victoria the Order of
the " Golden Roes," and is now having enquiries
made to know a bather her Majesty would accept the
deooratiot.

Load Derby's speech on Monday was not in every
way an admirable exhibition, as all felt who heard it.
But in a passage, which seems, °tidily enough, to have
:=4observation, he di I the Government the
of disclosing the fact that they have a policy
of action. and tied the vote of six millions and the
calling out of the Reserves are but means to an end
which has already been discussed and decided upon.
Lord Derby said: "The calling out of the Reserves WAS
not the sole, nor indeed the principal, reason for the
differences that unfortunately arose between my
my colleagues and myself. What the other reasons
are I cannot divulge until the propositions of the
Governmentfrom whom I dissented, are made known."
It appears therefore there are propositions yet to be
made more serious than even the preparations for war'
and these can only be propos' ion, of actioo. Lord
Derby agreed to pull of his coat, but he would not
agree to fight, which is certainly • sufficient, as well
aa a principal, reason for his leaving the Cabinet.

Calling out the Reserves will undoubtedly have a
bad effect on recruiting. Soldiers look forward to the
Reserve se a haven of rest in which their good
character will in all probability get them some honest
employment. They are mostly monied, and give
themselves up to the idea of civil life. Let us suppose
that a man serves sit years in the Army. He leaves
for six years in the Reserve; his character is good.
he is strong and active in body, and in the prime of
life. He finds these advantages have put him in the
position of yard-foreman, a railway porter or official,
a policeman, or one of the many other situations of a
pound a week that • strong, trustworthy man with
character can
Now, when Cie:T.:idled out to serve in his own or
any other regiment, the Government may think fit to
send him to, he leaves his situation, which of course
must be filled up, and be has the Government &Row-
ance of sixpence • day for his wife, and twopence a
day for each child.
Auppoeing there is to be a pacific solution of the
present political difficulty, all these Reserve men will
return to their districts. to find their places filled up,
and thousands of men like themselves seeking any sort
of employment to keep body and soul together. Let
the Government he liberal, and ensure them at all
events • month's full pay after dismissal in order that
they may have time to turn round and look for Nome-
thing to do without immediate starvation staring them
In the face

Everyone will rejoice to hear that the health of
Mr. Ruakin ham greatly improved within the last few
days.

The petition in favour of peace, which wog presented
to Parliament on Tuesday night by Mr. John Bright,
consisted of • roll of 214 yards long, and contained over
15.000 hignatures. In addition to this number, from
2.1'00 to 3.000 signatures were rendered invalid in
cons,quen, of their having been written on both sideo
of the paper. It is a noteworthy fact that amongst
the replies to the 8.000 copie• of the petition which
were forwarded to the presidents and secretaries of
trade. unimts throughout the country only forty-one
were refusals, thongh *owe of these were couched in
vary violent language.