The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-12-20 00:00:00

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The undergraduates of Oxford are clearly
descendants of John Bunyan's "Little Faith/'
The Brothers nivenport have visited that far
famed seat of learning, but these lords of the
unseen world, Instead of being received as the
preachers of • new gospel, were treated as
mountebanks. The incredulous alumni hustled
the Brothers, threatened to overturn their
cabinet, and put them in bodily fear, and at last
the men, who have all spirits at their control,
assumed the characters of Mistrust and
Timormu• and were fain to seek the assistance
of material policemen. It was bard upon them
that they should have been thus received by the
ingenuous youth of England. It was still harder
that they n ho can call up spirits from the vasty
deep should find that the spit its will not answer
when they are most wanted. On such an
occasion as this the spirits would, bad they been
at all considerate, have confirmed the mission of
the Davenports by tholes infallible nips and
proofs which men always expect when a new
dispensation is announced. It was bitt for the
, aerial correspondents of the Brothers to have
Wend the mat turbulent of the student' with
, those knots which they find so easy to untie, or
, to have dealt • few of those invisible but sub-
stantial buffet* which gentlemen who assist at
the spiritual siestas are accustomed to receive,
and the disturbance* would hart been quelled,
, and, still more satisfactory, the most unbelieving
would bate been convinoed. For want of a
little energy on this occasion &grand opportunity '
has been lost. The future teachers and guides ,
well be sceptical. They will continue so, and gtl to
their curacies and family living" Convinced that
the tops trick is but • Oeos of conjuring; that
the handaprotraing through the cabinet belong
' to arum which are attached to substantial bodies;
that the flying fiddles are far lets marvellous than
Paganiui's one-stringed violin; that the Brothers
Davenport and their eight confederates are
humbugs, and that Mr. Fay is their Barnum.
Still there are many who sill persist in believing 11
in the imposture. But ought stteh persons,
before they speak o eonfidently in their new
apocalypse, tell us what good objestspiritnslism
serves! They certainly ought to show that it
tends either to the mutual or to the materiel
advantage of the human race. Them spirits
surely ought to perform some engineering feats
for us, or they should instruct us in the truths
that effect our eternal destiny. If they can
MOTO tables, why not help us in moving houses I
If they bring us menages from the unseen
world, why do they not at once and for ever set
at rest the disputed doctrine of eternal punish-
ment I At present they are at melees as they
are ridiculous. The :swim did bring us sub-
stantial benefits, but these spirits only give us a:
blow on the head with a material addle. The
ghosts in Runlet and Macbeth revealed mur-
ders, but them spirits only hill us bow old we
are, and tell us wrong. The failure of the
so-
cslllsd clairvoyants to give is. the information
we wished to know, soon :educed them to their
!Nor position, that of assistants of the Wizard
of North. The same clever conjurer de-
clares that he can do all that the Messrs. Daven-
port can do. Even if he cannot, nothing more
is proved than that Messrs. Davenport know a
trick which Messrs. Anderson do not. To
ado to superhuman agency that which We all
the chemeberistias tea thoroughly human slidOt-
of hand, just because we cannot explain
the modem operandi, is as illogical as it
is unscientific. It is not surprising, how-
ever, that many of the men who. have. re.
*bed Chrialasaity ham* accepted Spuittmlienx

The same mental defect which made them in-
sensible to the overwhelming evidence of the
truth of our religion would make them ready
to accept auy imposition which was offered in its
stead. They are incapable of wtfighlng seldom*
and to accept withont Olden°e is quite as natural
to them as to reject that which is supported by
evidence It is but another manifestation of the
same disease—that those who have refused to
believe the truth are given over to strong
delusions to believe a lie.

Mr. Reuter must look to his laurels, or his
wires rather. A rival has arisen in the shape of
the Telegraphic News Association, which bids
fair to compete successfully with the German
Jew. 'Hare is really greet room for improve-
ment in our telegraphic news. Renter's,
especially, is often late, generally meagre,
frequently erroneous, and at the same time
very dear. The new association has, at yet,
confined itself to American news, and their very
ftawittlrams have been pnblithed in the
s , Nereid, and one or two other papers.
The Tbour has ignored them, not wishing, of
course, to eclipse the special telegrams of “Our
Own CorresTondent," nor desiring to encourage
any enterprise which will lemon the cost of
journalism.
There was • large gathering in London on
Wednesday night, at the rooms of the Society
of Arts, to hear a paper by Sir Robert Kane on
the International Exhibition which is to take
place next year in Dublin. Lord Dniferin, the
new Under-Secretary for the Colonies, and
author of "Letters from High Latitudes," took
the chair. Sir Robert Kane's paper was tail of
interesting statistic*, respecting the wealth and
manufactures of Ireland, and it seemed from
these as if the good time which has been so long
delayed had come for Ireland at last. In ship-
building, soap-boiling, crinoline-making, and
above all, linen manufacturing, there has been a
great advance during the last few years. At the
same time it is most satisfactory to know that one
branch of manufactory--whiskey distilling—has
decreased in a most remarkable manner, namely,
from 81 millions of gallons in 1853, to lass than 4
millions in 1866. Closely connected with these
figures we learn that crime has diminished • half,
and pauperism three-fifths. It is not everybody
that knows that shirts are cut out in Ireland
in large numbers and sent to England to be
made up; nor that ladies' corsets are largely
manufactured in Ireland; nor that most of the
cheap London periodicals are printed on Irish
paper. Altogether, things have improved since
the day when Irish wood was declared by
English farmers to be a public nuisance, and a
bill was paired (temp. William III.) to restrict
the use of that article. As regards the Exhibi-
tion itself, the most hopeful amounts were given.
Lord Powersoourt promised that a large number
of the works of art would be sent from the
continent. Mr. Macdonald, 114 r. O'Brady, and
others mentioned that they had ;net with signal
success on the continent, and there is scarcely a
country ih ICurope which was represented at the
Great Exhibition in 1862 which will not be re-
presented in Dublin in 1866. The Irish Com-
missioners, however, have to incur an expense
which the English had not ; they have to pay
for the transit of the goods from the continental
ports to Dublin, and back again if the goods
are not sold. The building will be of glass and
iron, and it is ekpected that the Prince and
Princess of Wales will be at the opening.
A most regrettable circumstance has transpired
in connection with the Hulme Relief Committe.
At a numerously-attended meeting on Thursday
it was announced that the treasurer, Mr. Thome
Paine, was a defaulter to the extent of more
than two thousand pounds. It appears that
there is no probability of his making good
the deficiency, as he has ratently made an
assignment, and his total litbilities are over
£6,000. The commit* though not legally
liable for the deficit, resolved to raise the
amount by subscription, and • considerable sum
was raised in the room. Paine is by profession
an accountant, and is 76 years of age. No
suspicion of his probity was entertained till
about a week ago. Legal advice is to be taken
as to the propriety of instituting a criminal pro-
secution.

The intelligence from New Zealand Is ex-
tremely discouraging and unsatisfactory. The
native population exhibits renewed tokens of
turbulent*, and are organising mischielrous
designs against the settlers. Actual fighting
has taken place. Political troubles have also
arisen. The Fox Ministry having been unable
to work in harmony with the governor, sent in
their resignation, which Sir George Grey, how-
ever, refused to accept The tidings from this
part of Her Majesty's empire may, for some
months to come at least, be looked for with con-
siderable anxiety, not to say apprehension of
severe embarrassment.

From Australia we learn that the general
feeling of the Colonists in the Melbourne district
is in favour of protection to colonial industry.
It would be hardly thought that the colony was
tar enough advanced in its manufacturing
industry to raise this ominous cry, which, if
responded to, must tell most effectually against
themselves. We export into that country to
the extent of twelve millions sterling per annum,
against which protection is asked for some half
dozen factories. The revenue for the quarter
ending the 30th of September, is reported to be
in • flourishing state; tbe receipts for the
quarter amounted to £818,100; noteithetanding
this, there have heed several blerciantile tailors',
and there have been complaints of distress in
the suburbs of Melbourne.
Sir Alexander Hood congratulated the farmers
at the Crewkerne Agricultural Meeting on
Saturday on the Confederation of the several
States of British North America—an event,
which, considering the causes that have given
rise to it, is in the highest degree creditable to
all the parties affected by it The Canadians
have, witbotit doubt, under all the circumstances,
acted wisely and well. Taught by the events of
the day, and fully aware of the difficulties and
the dangers of assuming • queen state of lode-
pendant" which would at once lay them open to
the designs of their more powerful neighbours,
they have set aside the principle of electing the
head of the executive Government, or of
adopting laws and institutions emanating from
among themselves, have expressed their inten-
tion to (albs out the institutions under which
they at present exist, and to continue their
allegiance to their mother country. The head
of the Goverment is to be the Queen, her re- I
presentative • Governor-General, who is to
appoint the different Lieutenant-Governors; the
Legislative Council is to be formed of members
appointed for life; the appointment of judges,
who are to be irremovable, is to be vested in the
Governor-General, the salaries to be fixed by I
Parliament; the maximum duration of Perlis- I
ment is to be five years, but subject, as with us,
to dissolution at an earlier period; the propor-
tion of debt, which devolve* upon the central
government, has been equitably adiusted ; the
duniber of representatives to be chosen is to
vary according to the extent of population, as
determined by the decennial census; mach pro-
vince, in imitation of the United States, is to
have its Legislative Council and House of Com-
mons, and the powers of the general legislature
are datinctly marked out. In all these matters
Canada appears to have taken the lead, as
is naturally to be expected, having the command
of the majority of Parliament, has reserved all
controlling power to the general government,
without reference to the requirement of other
provinces These matters, however, have to
undergo further investigation both at home sod
in the provinces, before the sonstantion is
definitely arranged.
Accounts from the seat of war in America are
of a Very conflicting nature. The report of
General Schofield would lead to the assumption
that victory was on side, did it not end by
stating that after having repulsed the two corps
of Hood's army with heavy loss, he retreated to
Nashville, closely followed by that general.
Subsequent intelligence informs us that
Sherman's cavalry has been defeated and dis-
persed.
The ever-joyous recurring festival of Christ-
ens will have paned me the next issue of our
paper. It is • season that is generally
considered, and not without reason, the happiest
in the year. The re-union of "operated mem-
bers of families, the filling of, it may be, long
vacant seats around the household hearth,
together with the remembrance of the supreme
event of the coining of our Saviour in the flesh,
diffuse a hallowed—s heavenly joy throughout
the households of the land. No doubt there
are many homes more or leas saddened by the
absence of loved ones, whose lees at such • time
is felt most keenly; but still the angelic strains
should sound in the sen of the bereaved, and
find • response in their hearts, "Glory to God
in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will
toward men." It is truly a privilege and •
blaming to help to relieve the sorrows or dis-
tresses at these to whom Christmas =nee as a
reminder of happy days that have gone by.
Many around us, we fear, are ill provided against
thsioelenieney of the "gather that has reran*
ot in. May their richer brethren remember
poit the haod that devineth liberal things is

doubly blest To all our readers we offer our
best wishes for their welfare, temporal and
spiritual, on the approaching ens=

DORCHESTEA. PrrOffrb Conn Manner,
Saturday, December 17.—Wheat was offered more
freely than for several weeks past and nonillY
found havers at late prices. Bexley in large supply.
Nona of which sold at • aliglit redaction, good
maltiog qualities realising 28e. ; grinding, 25' Per
quarter. Oats changed bends readily at ffal. to is.
per quarter more money.
Aormurt. —On Saturday afternoon, as a min named
Job Bayley, a mason, in the employ of Mr Gregory,
builder, was engaged in repeiring the roof of Mr.
flinson's hoses, South-street, by some moos he over-
balanced and Gil from • ladder to the :round. He
was coeveyed to the County Hospital. when It wei
found that his right arm was broken and his back
severely Injured.
ginllfiliaTioll OF CAPTAIN lODIFOILIT,—We are
sorry to have to eastednes that iS dtingieepioncn of the
failing health Of this gentleman, he has seat in his
migasti!. to in. Lord-Lieutenant. For some time
past, owing to his preearious stn.* of health, he has
been prevented from taking any wince part in connec-
tion with his corps, the grd D. S. V., sad now he ia
necessitated to leave England, and seek the wanner
slime of the &nth of Prance, in the hope of recovering
his health. The absence, be says, might be of two or
three years' duration, and ender these oirennistances he
felt that he could DO longer retain the command
of the corps. Oeptain Hinders's, has been con-
netted with the corps over sines its enrolment,
during which time, by his gentlemanly conduct
and demeanour, hi. con.tant attention to drill,
experiencing the pleasure as well as the more
arduous work of the corm he has endeared himself to
every member, and it I. with unfeigned feelings of
regret that the intelligence by letter was received.
The document show, the strong attachment existing
between him and the eorpa, and we know we shall
he uttering the wish of every member of it, in in-
dulging the hope that the genial climate of France
may have a beneficial effect in restoriog hire to health
sooner than he anticipates. The following is • oopy of
theletter

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SURGERY-
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