The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-07-30 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS
DgRCRESTER. TINIXDAT. JULY 30. 1867.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The Reform Bill is of cone's oafs now, in spite of
such motions as those of Earl Grey and Lord
Halifax. Nobody seriously erpected that the Lords
would pass either of them resolutions; but tho foot of
their being made and warmly debated ahows tbat
their lordships are not going to sit down tamely
under the imputation of being effete as a legislative
body. If it ii. political necessity that they than
pass the Bill, they will not do so without discussion,
and some sharp criticism on what they consider the
imperfect work whieb the commons haws sent up for
their approvAL If even the spirit of Lord Halifax%
resolutioo is not, after all, carried out, by making
soma important modifications in the most defective
part of the Government Bill—the r-distribution
scheme—there may yet be some sharp debating on
several of the isolated amendments on the pawl
Lord Lyttelton, fer instance, wishes to avoid the
imperative necessity pointed out by Mr. Lowe, of
"teaching our masters their letter," by providing
that no one shall be entitled to vote "who cannot
write 'legible hand" (which some of the law lords
oertainly cannot pretend that they do themselves).
Than Lord Deemer% wishes to disfranchise for one
rim no, pensiosooaviated of drunkenness three times
within a year—a proposition which may be con-
sidered Is tho shorn tail of • provision which the
common, refused to entertain, for disfranchising all
convicted of criminal offences. But the noble
s gets on to more d us ground when he
poses to reverse the a=
*blob has given
proposes
member to Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, and
Birmingham ; and 11th. Peers were toattempt such
a moires, they would find that they had raised four
boroot's nests about their ears. However, we i
cannot think that their lordships will thus fly in the
facie of Government, House of Commons, and people;
and if they touch the redistribution scheme at all,
It will more probably be to ohtain ingather* for St
Balsa's, Lashley, Luton, and Barnsley, by • further
draught upon the over rePrtesalod little boroughs of
the south.

Tim greet event of the pad week has been •
literary one—no lees than the publication of what
people persist in calling the Queen's work about
Prince Albert: cud there is no doubt that inucli of
comes from Her Hajesty's own pen. In this book
may be traced on nearly every page the strong
afLotion—almost the idolatry—which has canoed her
Majesty's loud imeleaion. As • family record, it is
one of the most touching memoirs that one could
reed ; and as exhibiting the inner life and feelings
of exalted pertain:lves, it will have • special intermit
Sr most pets.
Apropos o the visit of the Empress of the French
10 our Queen at Osborne, there has been slob!
gossip, and • variety of speonlations have been
made' of which, perhaps, the moat extravagant WI
that her Imperial Majesty was charged with the
mission of preparing the Qamm for • war between
Irmo, sad Pravda. Maw our cosiaikalosal

Gowiminsit, her Mafeet, Contd have little personal
inlieenoe in snob a 'natter ; but • friendly visit from
even the charming Empress Bovine weld not be
expected to turn the current of sympathies which
naturally inn in the direction of North Germany,
' where her Majesty has so many family connections.
An assurance respecting the indepeodenosof &Islam
might have some weight, if the connection between
'Great Britain and that country trete merely dynastic;
but, seeing that Russia and this country are both
bound to maintain the neutrality of Belgium, France
would need no thanks for respecting it, rather than
have three great enemies instead of one. Political
thinkers, therefore, cannot we any political motive
which the visit of the Empress could have.
Nevertheless, much apprehension is felt at the
condition of affairs on the Continent. There seems
to be • general feeling that war has only been
delayed for a few months by the Luxemburg Con-
ference, and that • fight for the championship of
Europe must soon come off. Garibaldi's prepara-
tions against Rome, and the refusal of the Danish
Government to take North Schleswig on Count
Bismark's conditions, show that both Italy and
Denmark are ready to take a high stand in cons*.
guinea of the preoccupation of their great neigh.
hours, and the seine thing is shown by the Italian
remonstrance against the military mission of General
Dumont to Rome. Austria, too, is holding up her
bead again, eager to recover her lost prestige, now
that Hungary ie pacified; and only doubtful, it is
said, whether to ally herself with Franca against
Prussia, or to hold herself free in case of a Russian
movement southward. Such • contingency as the 1
last ii not improbable in the event of war in Western
Europe; and who can say, till the event oomes,
how far friendship for the Turks, and regard for
our own interests, may lead us to involve
ourselves