The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-12-16 00:00:00

RETRENCHMENT IN THE NATIONAL
'EXPENDITURE.

Retrenchment, it seems, in definitely decided
upon by the Government. The estimates, more
especially those that relate to the War Depart-
ment, will not, probably, be cut down to such a
figure as will satisfy Mr. Bright and similar
economists, but the smallest tendency towards a
cheaper rate of expenditure ought to be thank-
fully received. The Observer, a paper likely to
be well informed on this subject, says :—" Re-
trenchment in the military and naval expendi-
ture of the country is a question that is under-
stood (we believe rightly) to be engaging the
serious attention of the Cabinet, preparatory to
the meeting of Parliament. We think there is
no doubt but that reductions to a considerable
amount will be effected; and we are sure that,
under the control of a Government of which
Lord Palmerston is chief, those reductions, in
whatever direction they may be made, will be
effected without in any way injuring the real
efficiency of either service. Without pretending
to know anything of what must at present be
shrouded in official secrecy, it is not difficult to
indicate some points at which the present system
offers the opportunity for very material saving,
without, in the least degree, impairing the
strength and efficiency of the national forces.
The administration of the army admits of
reforms which can be made to add to the effi-
ciency of the whole military machine, whilst
leading to such an amount of retrenchment in
the expenditure as may tell with very agreeable
effect on the estimates, and give considerable
satisfaction to the taxpayer. There is the ex-
travagant staff in Ireland, of the utility of which

in these dips of rapid COmeniinication the m o
practival authorities entertain the strongest
doubts, and in curtailing which, and the various
appointments connected with it, a judicious
economy may be freely exercised. Then, too,
there are the numerous district staffs, which
seem to be calculated more to complicate the
administration of the army than to be of any
real use in thesresent day, but all of which lead
to enormous elpense. There is here an ample
opportunity for the pruning knifb to be applied.
On too many former occasioni, *heti a ason
for retrenchment appeared to have arrived, a
reduction of strength was the rude expedient
alone adopted. So twiny thousands less of rank
and file, so many men who had been trained
into effective soldiers, at a grhat eiponte, tci be
discharged; or so many ships to be paid off, and
their crews dispersed. We hope that the circum-
stances of the times, when the estimates for the
coming year are prepared, will be such as
to admit of some reduction in the personnel,
both of the army and navy; but we look to ad-
ministrative reforms, especially in the staff
arrangements, for a more effective and more
leafing ticonOttiy. In the military service of
the tioloniea *8 may etpect that it will be round
practicable to make some material saving."

DORCHESTER, PITCHED CORN MARKET,
Saturday, December 13. —The opening of Mr.
Ensor's new repository, and the exhibition of Fat
Stock this day attracted nearly all the attention.
There was but a short supply of all kinds of grain,
but was quite sufficient for the demand. F orioles
effected about late prices were realised.
ALL SAINTS' CHtrltal.—On Sunday last, the Rev.
C. T. Proctor, lately instituted to the curacy of this
parish, preached his first sermons. there *tire
large congregations, and thefreV. gentleman deliteted
moat eloquent ittldreatieei Which were listened to
With marked attention. We have no doubt, from
tilt tattiest and faithful manner Mr. Proctor
addressed his hearers, he will be not only an accept-
able, but a successful preacher.
CAUTIoN To HoussuoLtachs.—Otir attention has
been called to the shamtffil manner in which various
parties have beth kerved who have let out a part
of thair henries to lodgers. It seems to boa regular
bystem with some who are engaged at work in the
various houses in progress of building in the town
to take lodgings without intending to pay. The
way these unprincipled parties manage is, after
being a week with those they intend to " let in,''
to make off before the inmates of the house are tip
in the morning, It would be a good plan fot all
who take In lodgers tti regilire theen to pity a Weal
rent in adVance by so doing they wtluld not be so
tletimited as many have lately been.
WlLPateres Tlitatkv.—Dtiring the past Week
this company have .been aeting,varions pieces at their
theatre etetted in the yard adjoining the Plume of
Feathers Inn. Unfortunately several nights have
been very unfavourable, and the attendance has
been but limited. On Friday night Shakespear's
" Macbeth" was given, and considering that this is
only a travelling company, the piece was very fairly
put on the boards. Mr. Atkinson well sustained
the principal oharacter, and Mrs. Atkinson, though
labouring under & severe cold, as Lady Macbeth,
performed her part in a very creditable manner.
Altogether the theatre is under expellent manage.
theist, And deietveli ginater flupPOrt thin it has hither-
ho tebeivhdi

On the 412th Mat. the Right Rev. the Lord
Bishop of Salisbury inatituted the Rev. Janaa
Paricual Fitzwilham Davidson, clerk, M.A., to the
Vicarage of Frampton, Dorset, on the presentation
of Richard Brineley Sheridan, of Frampton, Esquire,
and Marcia Maria Grant Browne Sheridan, his
wife.

On the same day his Lordship licensed the Rev.
Charles Tickell Praetor; Clerk, LA.I to the curacy
of All Saints, thittheiter.
LiNtAgillitE Metals& —On Sanday last the Stith
of a Bs. 3d. was 'Colleated it the nionthly 'otertilry
at St. Peter's Chalets, alid forvvardfd by the respetted
reetoc, on the following duty, to Manchester.
. A THOisbiaiiii Ss3isos.--On Monday Joseph Gif-
ford *Si brought before M. Devenish and R. Davis,
EINVIS., charged with stealing a parcel containing a
flannel shirt and a towel, the property of Andrew
Woodman. The prisoner was formerly in the 100th
(Canadian) Regiment of Foot, when, having some
£250 left him, he purchased his discharge, and has
been living upon the remainder of his money till all
his been spent. On Saturday (3*(31 last he was
in the Crown Inni whep kleirig litidle thh
settle he took it idid walked 'fitly. Party seeing
him go in the ditection a *oollaston terrace with a
white bundle and teturn shortly afterwards without
it, gave information to the police, Who found the
stolen priipertiy Secreted among the branehee of a
Mite] thee. The prisoner, oh returning to the Crown,
borrowed a slop-frock Of an acquaintance, and put
it on, and when he was apprehended by the police
for stealing the bundle, the man asked the prisoner
to give tip his slop. This, however, the latter refused
to do, and instead, gave his "friend" a tremendous
hlow on the side of his head and knocked him down.

The prisoner offered great resistance while being
conveyed to the station-house by Sergeant Davis
and P.C. Keats, and while Superintendent Pliancy
was taking the chate; the pti4oner tot% Boit the
twat eh Whilih he was sitting, and struck the prosecti•
tot three or four most violent blows with his flat.
The charge having been taken, the next business was
to get him into the cell, but this it took the entire
force to accomplish. He bit P.C. Keech in the arm,
kicked P.C. Keats on the leg, kicked so violently
at Superintendent Pouncy that had the latter not
fortunately avoided him, he must necessarily have in-
flicted very serious injuries, and afterwards kicked
P.C. Cousins, inflicting on him such injuries that he is
obliged to keep his tied. When taken before the
inabustiates on Monday, he pleaded guilty to the
felony, and was sentenced to 6 weeks' imprisonment
with hard labour, at the expiration of which period
he will be brought up again for assaulting the police.
COMM ITT ED TO TA It LORCA ESTER GAOL.—
Sessions: Thomas Cox, stealing hay at Evershot.
Hard Labour : Christopher Sprackling, leaving
family chargeable at Sherborne, 14 days George
Smith, misbehaviour at Bridpott Dnien, 21 days;
D John avis; Vtigianc.y at Lyme Regis, 1 calendar
Month ; Joseph Purchase, assault at Swyre, 7 days;
Aaron Ware and George Jackson, night poaching
at Pimperne, 3 calendar months; Andrew .Burgess,
John White, Frederick Hewlett, Frederick Brown,
and Thomas Cooper, vagrancy at Sherborne, 14
days; G. Stingemore, assault at Melcombe Regis, 1
calendar month ; James Morgan, assault at Buak-
horn Weston, 2 calendar months i Mawrice New-
house, vagrancy at Blandford, 1 ealenditt tnetith ;
George Hallett; stealing Coal at torepton Abbas, 2
'Oalehdar months; Philip Ambrose, stealing coal at
Cranborne, 2 calendar mouths.