The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-03-16 00:00:00

Central Nein.

A FACT FOR NATVRALISTS.—On Tuesday afternoon,
when the men employed by Mr. T. Brumfitt, joiner and
builder, Preston, were sawing a log of baywood, from
20ft. to 25ft. long. and 2ft. 21n. square, a cavity about
Bft. long was discovered in the middle of the log. On
being examined, this cavity, in its broadest part, was
found to contain a fully-formed honeycomb, which had
been cot in two by the saw. Numerous bees entire, and
parte of those insects, were found in the comb, the eon-
siatency of which was about that of wax, the effect of
sp. The conjecture is that the bees built their hive in
a hollow of the tree when it wee growing, and that the
Wafture was afterwards grown up. The loss to Mr.
Brumfitt is oonsiderable; as, besides the law of the
middle of the log of timber, the defeat necessitates its
being cut up into short piece".

_
Mr. RAHET'II HORSIL•TAMING 131511111.—The com-
mission nominated by the Emperor, consisting of Gen-
eral Fleury, Mr. Maekeznie Griever, and other gentle-
men acquainted with the nature d the horse, to axe,-
mineinto Mr. Itarey'emode of proceeding, has terminated
its investigation". In order to put the system to a
rigorous test it caused to be purchased at Caen a four-
year old horse by Tipple Cider, noted for its violence,
and for kicking furiously whenever an attempt was
made to put a crupper on it. In the spew of four days
this horse was as docile with the saddle and in harness
as could be desired, and he allowed a whip to be cracked
about his head and a drum to be beaten on his back
without any manifestations of fear. We are informed
that the results of the various experiments and espe-
cially of the one in question, are considered by the com-
mission perfectly satisfactory, and that in consequence
their report to the Emperor will be very favourable to
Mr. Rarey. A new experiment was made last Tuesday
at Tattersall's on a stallion belonging to the Hare, du
Cluny, the property of Government, and which was Oa
untameable so viscous, so furious, in fact, that a resolu-
tion had been adopted to kill it. The animal was lent
for the purpose by M. de Baylen, chef de la division des
Meru in the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce,
and as many as 300 members of the Jockey and other
clubs assembled to see what Mr. Rarey could do with
him. In company with this hone, which arrived with
a cave's on and mauled, and led by two men, Mr.
Morey fastened himself up in a stall, and in an hour
after he came out mounted on its back. Although the
hone bad always previously bitten the legs of every one
who mounted him, he was then perfectly quiet; and,
though the very sight of a whip was accustomed to put
him in a fury, he received a correction as quietly as the
beet broken-in hone would have done. The member, of
the Jockey ChM were astonished at what they witnessed
and broke out into loud mcdamations of admiration;
after which they gathered round Mr. Rarey to compli-
ment him. IL de Raylen, for his part, warmly expressed
his surprise and pleasure, and, at his request, Mr.
Mackenzie Grieves, gave the spectators an account of
the charader of the horse. Mr Remy then requested to
be allowed to keep the horse for three days, promising
at the oonolneam of that time to give Inn tip aa quiet as
any lady's horse, and his applialbon was granted.

illy expresiedl,4
request, 11-

LEGISLATION ON WITCHOHAFT.—(From the fourth
edition of Commissioner Phillips' Vacation Thoughts,
1858)—Perhaps there is not in the nation's history a
amet.ihlegislationmoore
legislationon
4.ryand. wihumicitlah.rfittig than that which
d
In our earlier times witchcraft and sorcery were not
capital offenses. It was, however, reserved for the
sapient James the First, the most fantastical pedant
that ever filled • throne, coraiderably to extend them.
In the very second year of his reign the statute passed
through a Christian Parliament making it • death-crime
to "evoke an evil spirit, or to consult, covenant with,
entertain, employ, feed, or reward any evil spirit,
or to take up dead bodies from their graves to be used
in any witchcraft, sorcery, or charm." .lames, it BOMB,
Was originally sceptical respecting the black art, and the
cause of his conversion is characteristic of his under-
standing. It was all owing to a oat called Rutterkin,
which, under the Devil's influence, destroyed the chil-
dren of Francis, Lord Rutland. It was a cheap achieve-
ment, the pries being only the soul of an old woman
whom the noble proprietor of Belvoir Castle had in BOMB
manner offended. Still James distrusted Rutterkin;
but he took • sure method to satisfy all scruples by ap-
pealing to the Church. Accordingly, when the bill
reached the House of Lords, he had it submitted to a
Select Committee, comprising amongst its members no
less than 12 prelates—Chnstian prelates gentle reader—
of the Church of England. They were—London, Dur-
ham, Winchester, Rochester, Lincoln, Worcester, S.
Divide, Chester, Carlisle, Elie, Peterburgh, and Here-
ford. Under such Royal and religions auspices, it passed
through Parliament—a Parliament of which Bacon was
member, and during a period when Coke was Attorney-
General; the one, "the wisest, brightest of mankind
the other, Westminster Hall's most venerated oracle,
and for all time likely to continue so. Yet each was
the delusion of the day that the mightiest and the
meanest intellects grovelled alike beneath its depreda-
tion. "In the reign of Charles the Second," says Lord
Campbell, " a judge, who from the bench should have
expressed a disbelief in witches, would have been
thought to show little respect to the law, and to have
been nothing better than an atheist." . . . The
blood curdles on • pineal of what follows:—" In
August, 1648, eighteen witches were executed at Bury
St. Edmund's, and one hundred and twenty more were
in the same prison to be tried; but the judges were
obliged to adjourn on account of the near approach of
the Cavaliers" Nor was this all. "in the compass of
two years," says Howell, "near three hundred witches
were convicted, and most of them executed, in Eases
and Sussex only. Scotland swarmed with them, and
many of good quality were executed daily."
Gisorrma ON A RAILWAY—At the Liverpool
Police-court last week, a well dressed young man named
Michael Brennan was placed before Kr. Mansfield, the
stipendiary magistrate, charged with being the person
who committed the recent daring robbery with violence
upon • gentleman in a first-class railway carriage be-
tween Manchester and Littleborongh. Mr. Whine.
wright, the prosecutor, stated that on the night of the
11th of February, in proceeding to the railway static.
Manchester, he was stopped by a friend who wanted to
pay him a small amount, amounting to £9 or £lO.
While receiving the money the prisoner passed by and
jostled against him. On tearing his friend he went to
the station, and took his seat in a flust-alase carriage for
the ptirpoie of proceeding to Liverpool. Before the
train started the prisoner got in, and when about half
way on the journey he presented • pistol and demanded
his money. The prosecutor hesitated, when the pri-
soner seised him by the throat and choked him into
inseasibility. On recovering his consciousness be found
himself lying on the floor of the carriage, his money and
watch gone. He gave information to the police. De-
tective officers Smote and Thompson, of the Liverpool
force, stated that in consequence of the description
given by the prosecutor they had been on the lookout
for the prisoner, whom they apprehended in Liverpool
on Sunday evening. He had been identified by the
prosecutor. The prisoner was remanded for the purpose
of being taken before the magistrates at Rochdale.

EITiNBIVE ROBBERY AT OIPORD.—On Sunday
afternoon a daring robbery was committed at the house
of the Rev. Thomas Forster, the vicar of Caasington,
Oxon. Mr. Forster's residence is in St. John's terrace,
Oxford, and on Sunday afternoon the entire family, with
the servants, were at church, when some thieves, by
means of • skeleton key, opened the street door and,
entering the house, carried off money and property to
the amount of £l5O. Various rooms were ransacked
and several drawers broken open, and the plunder, all of
which was valuable and portable, included 60 silver
spoons, two silver cups, one silver fish-slice, six silver
sauce ladles, three dozen silver forks, three gold
watches, • miniature of Charles IL set in gold, with the
initials "P. C.," and many other articles of ladies'
jewelry; also a £5-note of the Oxford Old Bank, a
guinea in a long silk parse, and loose money amounting
to £5. The robbery was effected between 3 and 4 o'clock
in the afternoon, and aboutthe latter hour Mr. Forster's
next door neighbour and some other persons saw two
rather respectably-dressed men leave the rev, gentle-
man's house. On Mr. Forster's return the robbery was
at once discovered, and the police, who were immediately
communicated with, traced the two men on to the Ban-
bury road; but, notwithstanding all their efforts, no
further clue either of the robbers or the property has
ince been discovered.

THE ITALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LEAGUE.—For the
last week several meetings have been held in London of
a body of Italians calling themselves the Italian Consti-
tutional League. They are said to oonsist of delegates
from the different cities in Italy, and to have met origi-
nally at Turin, but the attempt on the French Emperas
life made them adjourn to London. They have
lately held a conference in Newman Street. There was
only one refugee present; all the others were delegates
from Italy. Signor Borromeo occupied the chair.
Their object is to commence a movement on the plan of
moral agitation, having for its end to induce the various
sovereigns of the States of Italy to adopt their principles
of constitutional government, and give their adhesion to
an amalgamation of a central power. The first act of
the Conference was to stamp the Orsini attempt with
detestation; and to denounce the mad and insensate men
who are ever the first to stand between Italy and her
regeneration. On the second day the meeting resolved
to publish an exposition of its views and wishes, in order
to correct the false impressions with respect to the
objects of the Italian National party that prevail every-
where, but ewecially in England. Wednesday, Thurs-
day, and Friday were occupied in the delivery of moder-
ate speeches by Signor, Borromeo, Signor, Curioni,
Sig. Litta, and Signor Correnti. The business was to
empower Signor Lida, Signor Brambilla, and Signor da
Costs to draw up an address setting forth the claims of
Italy to have her wants carefully considered by the
powers of Europe, with a view of obtaining their sup-
port in furtherance of the principles of the League.
- _

SAILING OF Da. ISVINGSTONE'S EXPEDITON.—
LrvitaFooL, March 10.—The north-westerly gales which
prevented the sailing of the screw steamer Pearl on
Monday and yesterday abated this morning, and at 15
minutes after 1 o'clock she cook her departure for Sierra
Leone, whence she will sail for the Cape, and thence for
the Zambezi river, up which she will steam as far as her
draught of water will permit her to go. The little
launch will then be unshipped, and will commence her
part of the enterprise. Besides Dr. and Mrs. Living-
stone, the Pearl has on board their little son i Mr.
Livingstone, brother to Dr. Livingstone, and assistant-
commander; Captain Bedingfield, R.N., Government
surveyor and nautical commander of the expedition;
Dr. Kirk, of Edinburgh, the botanist and mediae' oflic„ir. ;
Mr. Thornton, the geologist; Mr. Rae, the engineer of
the launch; and Mr. F. Baines, the artist of the expedi-
tion, all of whom have signed articles under Govern-
ment for two years' service. Mr. John Laird and a few
other friends accompanied Dr. Livinptonis on board,
and bade him a cheering "God speed" Wore the vessel
sailed. There seems to be a complete and agreeable
change in the weather, and there is every reason to hope
that the Pearl trill have a favourable ran down the
channel. _

LORD LYTTZLTON AND THZ GHOST.--Bome years
ago I met an old gentleman at Ewell, in Surrey, near
which is Pitt's-place where hia lordship died. He gave
me the following acconat, which he had from a gentle-
man who WAA in the house at the time. This person
was the organist of • neighbouring town, whose com-
pany was much courted on account of his musical talent,
and who was • frequent visitor to his Lordship. The
stsordinarily told is this—that he dreamt the ghost of
• whom he had seduced appeared to him, and pre-
di his death at 12 at night on the third day follow-
ing. My informant's story differs only thus far, that
the supposed apparition was that of the mother of the
lady in question, who had died of a broken heart in con-
sequence of her daughter's dishonour. Lord Lyttelton
WAS at this time in a very bad state of health in muse-
gnome of his excesses, and was subject to what my in-
formant called suffocating fits probably nervous
hysteria. Be this as it may, it appease on the day of
his death, the foretold third day, he had a party of
friends at Pitt'eplace, among whom was the organist,
whence my informant had the aooount. He says that
Lyttelton wee in a state of some agitation, and had told
the story of the dream to his friends. As the night
wore on and midnight approached his nervousness in-
creased painfully; and some of his visitors said during
his absence "Lyttelton will frighten himself into
another fit with this foolish short story," and they
determined to put • clock, whioh stood in the room,
forward, and when he returned to them they said
"Hurrah I Lyttelton, 12 o'clock is peat, you've jock-
eyed the ghost; now the best thing is to go quietly to
bed, and in the morning you will be all right." He
scoordingitrient upstairs; and while some of his guests
were put on their coats to depart his valet came
down to fete something—it was said some mint water,
which he was in the habit of taking, leaving his lordship
alone. At this period the clock of the parish church,
which wits not far off, and which, of course, could not
have been touched, began slowly to peal forth the true
midnight hour. The valet prooeeded upstairs and
shortly burst forth into loud exclamations. The party
ran up and found his Lordship had fallen dead, kdy in-
formant's impression was that the sudden revulsion of
feeling from a state of fancied security to finding him-
self at the moment in the very instant of the dreaded
danger had caused such a reaction as to bring on the fits
which carried him off. He, no doubt, had heard the
, first stroke of the clock as well as others down stairs,
, and as each successive blow struck slowly upon the bell
' the sense of danger and the remembrume of the dream
became greater and greater, and to so weakened a frame
and so diseased a mind no doubt these caused the catas-
trophe. It is not improbable most ghost stories might
be found to end in • similar natural solution—Note, and
Queries.
TR& CHARGE AGAINST MR. ISAAC BUTT, M.P.—ln
addition to the resolutions which have been already pub-
lished of the select committee of Mr. Coffey's petition
againitlir. Isaac Butt,DLP., the two followingwere pro-
posed, but rejected on the motion of Mr. Bouverie,—
" That no proceedings in Parliament were taken by
Isms Butt, Esq., in 1857, on the subject of the Ameer's
claims, but that in 1856 the said Isaac Butt presented •
petition from his Highness on the day of
June, moved on the day of for papers
on the subject; and gave notice on the day
of of an intended motion by himself on the
subject ;" and, "That your committee wish to express
their opinion that the receipt of money or reward by
members of the House of Commons for their services in
advising or ea/Listing in the prosecution of any claims on the
Executive Government, or in the transaction of business
with • department thereof, would be detrimental to the
character and dignity of the House, and deserves their
serious reprobation,'
THRICE PILOTS Deovrszp.—A distressing accident, by
which three poor fellows lost their lives, occurred on
Tuesday, off Point Lynes. From pilot-boat No. 10 •
punt waalowered for the conveyance of a pilot to • ship
st hand. John Davies, • pilot,Williain Lancaster,
and 11101111111 Bell, %dimmed apprentices, were ordered

into the boat. They were about to put off when • wave
overturned the boat, and the three were plunged into
the water. Every effort to save them proved fruitless,
and there being but one punt on board each pilot boat
the unfortunate men were soon beyond the reach of
assistance from the pilots. A boat was lowered from
the ship, but arrived too late to render assistance.
John Davies was 32 ye•re of age, and leaves a wife and
four children, the eldest aged 8 years. These, however,
are comparatively well provided for. The widow re-
ceives £lO per annum and £3 per annum for each of
the children till 13 years of age, from the Pilots' Com-
mittee Fund; there is also a widows' fund, from which
she will receive about £l6O.