The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1860-05-15 00:00:00

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DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS
DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, MAY 15, 1860.

HONESTE AUDAS.

Is the House of Lords on Tuesday Lord Ebury
moved the resolution of which he had given
notice, for a commission to revise the rubrics and
services of the Church of England, which at the
suggestion of Earl Granville was ultimately
withdrawn. On Thursday the Paper Duties
Repeal Bill was read a first time, Lord Mont-
eagle giving notice that on the motion for the
second reading he should move that the Bill be
read a second time that day six months. The
Customs Bill was read a second time, after an
intimation from the Earl of Derby that, though
neither he nor his friends acquiesced in the policy
of the Government as represented by the Bill,
they would notdisturb the financial arrangements
of the year by gideavouring to reject it, but
would reserve their opposition for the Paper
Duties Repeal Bill, in the hope of thereby saving
the country from the sacrifice of a considerable
revenue. _ _ _

In the House of Commons on Monday the
adjourned debate on the second reading of the
Refreshment Houses and Wine Licenses Bill, and
the amendment to defer the second reading for
six months, was resumed. On a division the
amendment was negatived by 267 to 193. The
Bill was then mad a second time. On Tuesday
Mr. Bovill's Stock Jobbing Bill was lost, with-
out a division, on the question of the second
reading. On the order of the day for the third
reading of the Paper Duty Repeal Bill, Mr.
Stafford Northcote moved as an amendment that
the present state of the finances of the country
rendered it undesirable to proceed further with
the repeal of the duty on paper. Mr. Ball, Sir
M M. Farquhar, and Mr. Disraeli supported the
amendment; Mr. M. Gibson, Lord H. Vane,
Mr. Ellice, Mr. T. Baring, Mr. Puller, and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed it. After
a long debate the amendment was negatived on
a division by the narrow majority of 9, the
numbers being 219 to 210, and the Bill was read
a third time. On Wednesday the adjourned
debate on the second reading of the Piers and
Harbours Bill was resumed by Mr. Lindsay, who
moved that the Bill be read a second time that
day six months. After some discussion the
amendment was negatived on a division by WJ to
80, and the Bill was read a second time. On the
order for going into committee upon the Bleach-
ing and Dyeing Works Bill, Mr. Baxley moved
as an amendment that the Bill be referred to a
' select committee. On a division the amendment
was negatived by 1134 to 147. The House then
went into committee and discussed the clauses of
the Bill during the remainder of the sitting. On
Thursday the House having resolved itself into
a Committee of Ways and Means, the Chancellor
of the Exchequer moved resolutions charging
rates and duties upon licenses for refreshment
houses and wine shops. After considerable dis-
cussion the first resolution, imposing a license of
10s. 6d. on the refreshment houses rented under
£2O, was carried on a division by 17:1 to 103.
On the next resolution, imposing a license of
El Is. on refreshment houses above £2O rental,
Mr. Ayrton moved as an amendment to reduce
the charge to 10s. 6d., thus establishing a uniform
license. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
opposed the amendment, which was negatived
on a division by 162 to 88. The resolution was
then agreed to, as were also the resolutions for
granting licenses to retail wine to be consumed
on the premises or otherwise. On the motion
that the House go into committee on the Wine
Licenses Bill, Mr. Palk moved as an amendment
that the House go into committee on that day
six months. The amendment was negatived
without a division, and the House went into
committee, when some of the clauses were gone
through, after much discussion and many
amendments. The Chairman was then ordered
to report progress.
On Friday Mr. James taunted the Govern-
ment with being insincere in their intention to
proceed with the Reform Bill, and asserted that
the measure was adjourned from the 3rd of May
to the 4th June to give place to such measures
as the Highways Bill and some others. Lord
John Russell replied that it was a total misap-
prehension on the part of Mr. James—who was
unwilling to give this Reform Bill a fair con-
sideration—when he supposed that that measure
had been postponed on account of the other
measure he named, and it was an error which
arose from his want of experience as to the
proceedings of the House. There was, his Lord-
ship said, good reason for not bringing on the
Reform Bill till the decision of the House had
been taken on the principal portions of the
Budget. It was the intention of the Govern-
ment to bring on the Reform Bill on the 4th
June, and they wished to have as much time as
the Bongo may be willing to give them for pro-
ceeding with this measure.

THE narrow majority in the House Of COMMODE
on Tuesday last, in favour of the Government,
on the abolition of the paper duty, reflects more
discredit upon party tactics and the spirit of
political opposition in Parliament, than any-
thing which has occurred within its walls for
many years. It is not that confidence in the
Government has diminished; but the unscrupu-
lous proceedings of their opponents have gone
far to shake public confidence in the resolutions
of Parliament itself.
To the hands of Sir S. NORTIICOTE was com-
mitted the opening of this discreditable business.
He WM instructed to move :—" That the pre-
"sent state of the finances of the country roil-
"dere it undesirable to proceed further with the
"repeal of the Excise duty on paper." Of
course, he delivered a carefully-got-up and very
plausible speech, but at the same time a very
fallacious one: Ho was surrounded with diffi-
culties. There was the direct affirmation of the
House (by a large majority) of the abolition of
the tax staring him in the face; and there was
the Id. increase in the income tax—which every
man of his party avows to have been laid on to
compensate the deficiency created by the repeal
—which had actually become the law of the
land, and had been already paid by large num-
bers of Ilea MAJESTY'S subjects. Yet, not-
withstanding that the equivalent had been
levied the boon was to be withheld ; that which
only a few weeks back was regarded by the
Legislature as wise and just the Legislature
was now asked to condemn and overthrow as
objectionable and pernicious.
If the Opposition are so short-sighted as to
regard the narrow majority in favour of Minis-
ters, which followed upon this unparalleled and
daring proceeding, as a victory, thoy will have
abundant reason hereafter to restrain their
desire for a repetition of such victories. There

are certain kinds of victories which lead directly !
to all the evil consequences of humiliating and
disastrous defeats ; and any triumph which rests ,
upon a deviation from awell-defined, true line of I
honour, can furnish no real grounds of congratu-
lation to the parties concerned. As to the detri-
mental operation of the tax on paper, no !
reasonable o.oubt can exist; it has, indeed, been
! condemned by all parties, and its repeal every-
where insisted upon for moral, literary, and
educational considerations. The merits of the '
question, then, can biddy be touched; and the
debate on the third reading is consequently
made almost wholly to turn upon certain
alleged altered circumstances requiring an addi-
tional expenditure of the public money, which
circumstances are, in the most puerile manner,
supposed to have arisen within, it may be said,
the last few days. The whole fabric Of this
hollow superstructure was effectually demolished
by the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who
showed, in the clearest and most unanswerable
manner, that there has been no such change as
would justify the House in altering the financial
propositions which had been submitted to, and
affirmed by, that House. But cession, having
muddled the judgment of the House, "essayed
to lead the way," and was very nearly consum-
lifting what would have been, under all the
circumstances, an everlasting disgrace to the
Legislature—the defeat of the Ministry upon
this question.

The treacherous vacillation of the House with
regard to this particular tax was exposed by
Mr. GLADSTONE in a way which ought to make
the. House blush for the result at which it has
arrived. Well might the Chancellor exclaim :

What I insist upon in this—and here I challenge con-
tradiction in any form—that, without exception, when
such • remission of taxation has been proposed by the
authority of the Government and accepted by a deliberate
vote of the House of ('ominous it is from that time re-
garded by every person concerned as if it were already
the law of the land. Is there an exception to that?
Can my right hon. friend (Mr. Ellice), who says he has
sat in this house nearly half a century, furnish me with
an exception? No; there is no instance of the correc-
tion of a deliberate vote of this kind. I feel confident
that the house retains the opinion which it expressed on
the second reading of the Bill. I also feel confident
that even conic of those who doubted the merits of the
measure when it was introduced, will not doubt now,
when the question is, whether the Home will or will
not fulfil a solemn pledge that it has given to the
country.

That was the question ; yet the manifest claims
of justice, morality, and honour,—the "solemn
pledge," which it is no exaggeration to say was
given to the country on the second reading, was
upheld only by the narrow majority of ten
members!

When it is consideted that this is the way in I
which the question has been dealt with—the
question of repealing a tax which Mr. DISRAELI
himself, when Chancellor of the Exchequer, de-
clared to be impolitic, and objectionable as a
permanent source of revenue—a tax which
presses so heavily on the books and periodicals
which circulate among the working classes, —when
all this is borne in mind, we should not be But-
prised to find some new impulse given to such
propositions as those of Lord John Russell for
an extension of the franchise, and a fuller and
more perfect representation of the people than
appears at present to exist in the House of Com-
-11101114. And the dissemination of cheap literature,
let it be added, by rendering the masses better
acquainted with political affairs, will necessarily
qualify them in a higher dere for the exercise of
political privileges whenever it shall please the
Imperial Parliament to place those privileges in
their hands-

DORCHESTBR PITCHRD CORN MARKET, Saturday.
—There was a fair supply of wheat on offer to-day,
for which the demand ruled steady at prices rather
in favour of the seller. Barley and oats nominal.
COMM/WOKS SIGNELP BY THE LORD-LIETTENANT
OF THE COUNTY OF DORSET. —ld &Indio,' of for.
Rise Voluuteers.--Captsin George Pleydell
Alansel, to be Lieut.-Colonel ; Major Richard
Steward, to be Major.—sik Company of DorortAire
Rifle Vulunteern.--- Lieutenant Hobert Cranford Far-
quharson, to be Captain, vice Nlansel promoted;
Ensign Francis Tregonwell Johns, to be Lieutenant,
vice Farquharson promoted ; William Henry Atkin-
son," gentleman, to be Ensign, vice Johns promoted.
The Rev. John Robert Leigh, M.A., to be Honorary
Chaplain.
On Thursday, petitions for and against the Poor
Law Medical Relief Bill were presented—by Mr.
Portman from the Sherborne. Blandford, and Carnet
Unions, against; and from the Medical Otbcers of
the latter place praying for increased remuneration ;
by Mr. Semler from the Dorchester Uiiii.ii, against;
by Sir Wm. Miles from the Clutton, Wincanton,
and A:bridge Board of Guanlians, against; by Mr.
Moody from the Board of Guardians of Yeovil, and
I Bridgwater Unions, against the Bill ; and from
persons in the district of Dchester and Crewkerne,
in favour of it. en Friday, petitions were presented
by Mr. N. Start from Dorchester, in favour of the
Attornies and Solicitors Bill ; and by Mr. G. Stunt
from Sherborne, against the Wine Licenses BilL

SOUTHERN COU;TIES ADULT EDUCATIONSOCIETE.
—No fewer than 47 evening schools in the counties I
of Hants, Wilts, and Dorset have been aided by
this society. The examinations of the society,
which includes 210 candidates, in 35 different
schools and institutes, are now going on. From the
results of these examinations further aid will be
derived to the schools. Southampton, Marllwrough,
Swanage, Blandford, Newbury. Heytesbury, War-
minster, Havant, Ringwood, Fordingbridge, Lyme,
Amesbury, and Wilton, are amongst the pLscas
included in the lid.
BATH AND WEST Or ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL
So(•orric.—The monthly meeting of the council was
held at Waghorns Howl, Taunton, on Saturday. the
'2Bth ult. Present —The Earl of De von in the chair, Lord
Portman, J. T. Davy, Jonathan Gray, .1. T. Pitts,
J. L Oldreive, John Widilicnnibe, Richard Brew.
ride, John Gray, R. M. King, William Thompson,
Joseph Lush, R. S. Grenville, J. 11. Cotterell,
George Langdon, Dr. Gillett, Clement Bush. Samuel
Pitman, John Sillitint, J. W. Walrontl, G. S. Poole,
James Hole, M. Fermat, Thomas Danger, Robert
May, E. S. Drew, William Porter, Edward Pope,
John Fry, T. I). Acland. jun., J.lin Bailward, George
Bullock. Railway Arramyeaseals.—The report of
the Railway Arrangement Committee via submitted
to the meeting by Mr. Pitman, and showed that the
directors of the various railways within the Ix ds
of the society's operation had agreed to give every
, facility in the conveyance of stock, implements, Ike.,
to the annual exhibitions. The Dordwsler Meelimy.
—The noble chairman directed the attent of the
meeting to the question of settling the programme of
the Dorchester meeting. The Mayor of Dorchester,
who was present, here stated the various arrange-
ments making by the local committee, and the pro-
gress made to give effect to the floral and horticultu-
ral show in connection with the meeting. After
considerable consultation, the programme was deti•
nitely settled, and ordered to be speedily cummuni•
cated to the public. The Meeting fur 17,41.—Truro
having been selected for the place of exhibition for
Is6l, a deputation was appointed to proceed thither,
make the necessary survey of the proposed site, and
report to the next meeting. ..Vere Members.— The fol-
lowing gentlemen were elected :—Lord Courtenay,
Powderham Castle; Josiah Hill, Came, Dorchester;
Mr. Mason, Dorchester ; Mr. Ensor, Dorchester;
Thomas Battenbury, North Tawton ; G. J. Wood,
Atlielainpton ; Harry Pulmau, Romney ; Henry
Aylmer Porter, Staplake House, Starcross ; Richard
Andrews, Modbury ; William Parham, Bath.
1:tO1111 TT V. I) To Do KCII EtcrEtt GAOL. Assi:es.—
Edward Whisky, strafing a post letter, he., at Wey-
mouth. Hard Labour. --George Mavis, vagrancy at
Dorchester. 7 days ; Charles Pedditt and Jame Brown,
deserting H.M.S. Centurion, 6 calendar months; George
Wayiiicnt. deserting H.M.S. Aboukir, 6 calendar
woutlim ; William Carew, deserting H.M.S. Donegal, 6
caleoilsr months ; James Hooker and Robert Hurtle,
deserting H.M.S. Donegal, 2.1 clays ; Daniel Sullivan,
drunk in board H.M.S. Donegal, :.14 days ; John Perry
deNertnig H.M.S. Commerer, 6 calendar months; David
Evans and George Willianis, deserting H.M.S. Donegal,
6 calendar months ; James Way, poaching at Mileome,
'2 calendar months ; John Gumbleton, robbing garden
at Shaftesbury, 2 calendar tha ; Mary Ann Dimond,
breaking windows, &c., at Lyme Hrgis. 14 days ; Frank
Trevett, vagrancy at Dorchester, I calendar month.
I'u WALKS.—A thorough repair of the public
walks along the avenues which surround our town,
in accordance with a resolution passed at the last
meeting of the Town Council, was cionineuced yes-
terday.
Ririe Vor.exTexes.—On Thursday afternoon, in
spite of wind and weather, the Dorchester ltdle
Corps paid a friendly visit to Weymouth. The rain
which fell in large quantities during the day was un-
doubtedly hailed with the greatest delight by our
agricultural friends, but certainly if the clerk of
the weather had been consulted before the general
order to " march to Weymouth" MO been issued,
Thursday would have been fixed on. The most
precious metal, however, has to pass through a fiery
• ordeal before its real value can 'be ascertained, and
our Volunteer Rifles must needs pass through an
ordeal, other than that of shooting at target or drill,.
before their sterling qualities will be fully known
and appreciated by the public. We trust it will be
long ere our Volunteer Rifle Corps will be died