The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-03-25 00:00:00

on her an eye of pity? Has she no friends to
commisserate with her in her declining years?
Happily we can apply to ourselves the flattering
unction that we have done all we could for her,
by repeated warnings as to the consequence of
the narrow-minded policy she was pursuing in
matters social and political, and admonitions to
join us in the march with the spirit of the ago.
But she has ever been stubborn and perverse ;
she clung to the old corn laws with a tenacity
worthy only of a better cause, and prognosticated
that their repeal would lead to the ruin of agri-
culture, and eventually to the downfall of the
empire. In like manner has she been the
determined opponent of every liberal measure
that has of late years been brought before the
notice of Parliament. Like all other stronc-
minded, wrong-headed old ladies, she was
determined to have her own way despite the
warnings she received from us, and now she is
performing an act of public penance ! To be
sure no one has been standing in a white sheet,
bareheaded and barelegged in the market square,
but she has nevertheless been confessing her sins
by a reduction of her establishment, and begging
for deliverance from social exile by a cutting
down of her expenditure. Before the Emanci-
pation Act and the Reform Bill there were
flourishing journals of the old school; but since
then public opinion has progressed, and 11,ese
organs have sunk into obscurity. There :a no
denying the fact that the Conservative press is
almost everywhere retrograding, and can we
' wonder that the "Old Lady of West High Street"
11 is not an exemption to the general rule? o doubt
1 the repeal of the paper duty has been a great
boon to the cheap press—thanks to Mr. Gladstone
and Mr. Milner Gibson—and the cheap press is,
1 with but few exceptions, Liberal. But the chief
reason of the generel bankruptcy of the Con-
servativelpress, undoubtedly, arises from the fact
that Conservatism is not a principle to be repre-
sented by newspapers. The active, thinking,
quickening and maturing minds of the com-
munity naturally sympathise with the Liberal
press. Isolated squires, clergymen in the
twilight of age, the gentry of no decided opinions,
read once in three months airartiele in a review ;
but the men of the time are Liberals. We are
governed by them ; they constitute a majority
of the electoral body ; they even influence the
prelacy ; and every Tory who presents himself
before a constituency for election, professes to
be an admirer of Liberal principles. True these
might be designated wolves in sheep's clothing,
but they know that the adoption of the disguise
is their only chance of success. 'Toryism is con-
demned to the "cold flats of opposition," not
only in Parliament, but in the press and in
society. What has Conservatism to do with the
inventions, the discoveries, the moral or material
progress of this age? What has it to do with
international exhibitions, submarine telegraphs,
giant ships, volunteer movements, or the
genera: advancement of the human mind ? It is
a Black Letter code, a dialect made up
of the dead languages—half Latin and half
Norman, a grotesque no more consistent with
the second half of the nineteenth centi ry than
the high cravats, the snuff boxes, and the gold
quizzing-glasses of the Georgian era. The race
of the genuine Tory is fast becoming extinct,
and Conservatism is, in reality, nothing more
than a satire upon Toryism. Yet, while both
pretend to be interested in the political treatises
which are to be found in the deep and stagnant
reservoirs of a quarterly, neither cares for the
powerless, meaningless, abject, mendicant weekly
begging-letter which calls itself a Conservative
journal.

DORCHESTER PITCHED CORN MARKET, Saturday,
March 22.—The attendance was good, but trade
generally was dull without change in prices. There
seemed to be more inquiry for spring corn than
for wheat. The amount of business transacted was
very small at late rates.

MESSRP. BAKER AND ENSOR'S REPOSITORY SALE,
March 22.—There was a numerous attendance of
buyers from all parts, and the quantity and quality
of the stock on offer was such as we have no er seen
equalled out of Smithfield (or the Metropolitan as it
is now called). The
.best beef sold well, at lls. to

,
lls. 6d. per seers; middling, 10a, Best mutton all
sold at Sid. per lb. Fat veal, and cows and calves
sold well. About 30 horses were offered, and nearly
all were disposed of.
THE MALT TAX. —A large and influential meet-
ing was held on Monday, at Mark Lane, to consider
the great question of the malt duty, our report of
which had not arrived at the time we went to press.
COMMITTED TO THE DORCHESTER GAOL. —A 88iZe 8:
William Rip, arson at Lyme Regis ; Hard Labour:
George Wright and William Hinds, vagrancy at
Rampisham, 14 slays; Edward Warren, assault=
his wife at Wareham, 3 calendar months; John
Johnson, misbehaviour, in Beaminater Union, 42
days; Isaac Williams, vagrancy at Weymouth, 14
days; Thomas Frampton, poachingatToller Fmtruin,
1 calendar month; Sarah Burt, stealing money at
Dorchester, 6 calendar months; William Smith
Woodrow, stealing grains at Minterne Magna, 2
calendar months.
ONE OF THE EFFECTS Or THE REPEAL OF THE
PAPER DUTY.—The repeal of the paper duty is
beginning to tell seriously upon the high-priced
journals. The latest illustration that has come to
our knowledge is that of the Dorset Chronicle, which
it 'has been determined to work with a reduced staff, '
and consequently a number of the old hands have
received notice to leave. We would advise tfie "old
lady" to chew her cud with a good grace, advocate
Liberal politics, and come down to a penny at once.
She might then retain her vigour for some yearn to
come, but not otherwise; for, without pretending to
the gator prophecy, we can tell her that if she per-
sists in her mad career, she will by and by "go off
like the snuff of a candle."
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETV.—At the weekly
meeting of the council and members of the Royal
Agricultural Society, on Wednesday last, Mr. Beale
Browne introduced for discussion, "Thorley's Food
for Cattle." Mr. Browne spoke very strongly of
the merits of this condiment, having tried it in the
last extremity with some sheep that were dying off,
although he had before been strongly prejudiced
against it. Even when he consented to try it, he
said he had no faith in it; but after he had mixed a
small portion with their food for three weeks, the
improvement of the sheep was almost incredible—
indeed, had he not seen them daily, he would not
have known them. The Professor of Veterinary
Medicine to the Society Mao said that the food con-
tained certain medicinal properties, which tended to
restore to health animals that had disease. A large
number of gentlemen took part in the discussion,
and an almost unanimous testimony was borne in
favour of Thorley's condiment. In conclusion, the
Chairman said the discussion had been a most valu-
able one, and lie strongly advised all who had
animals in an =thriving condition to send for half
a ton of Thorley's cattle food, and try it.
WEYMOUTH.—VESTRY Merrieo.— A meeting
of the parishioners was held at the vestry room of
St. Mary's, on Thursday, to receive the report of
Mr. Smart, relative to the restoration of the altar.
piece, painted and presented to St. Mary's Church
by Sir 'James Thornhill. The Rev. Talbot Greaves,
rector, presided. Mr. Robertson, one of the church-
wardens, said, that in pursuance of a resolution
passed at the last meeting, he had applied to Mr.
Smart to come down and examine the picture.
That gentleman had done so, and had reported that
the picture way fast falling to-decay--that the can-
vass was sufficiently strong to last many years—and
that his estimate for cleaning, repairing, and re-lining
the picture would be .£2l.—Mr. Denson, the scenic
artist at the Manchester Zoological Gardens, who
had been employed in restoring Sir James Thorn-
hill's pictures in the great ball at Greenwich Hos-
pital, and who had given good references, had also
applied for the work.—The rector said he did not
think they had to discuss the merits of the two
gentlemen. The last meeting decided that Sir G.
Hayter should be written to to select an artist for
the work, and he had recommended Mr. Smart. The
question, therefore, for this meeting, was whether
the work recommended by Mr. Smart should be
done.—Mr. Robertson stated that Mr. Smart bad
pronounced the canvass good, and that it would be
unnecessary to re-line the picture. He asked that
gentleman, when he was examining it, if the stoves
would injure the picture;and he replied, "Certainly
not; they would do it a great deal of good".—Mr.
Drew believed that if the front of the picture was
bad the back was a great deal worse. If the paint
was perishing for want of oil, after having been
varnished several times, surely the canvass which
had never received any oil was in a perishing state.
Common sense itself would dictate this.—Mr. J. J.
Rolls said Mr. Denson was a talented artist. He
had not only painted the callossal view of Venice,
so much admired at the Surrey Zoological Gardens,
but he had also restored the whole of the pictures in
Greenwich Hospital, thereby proving his on:abilities
for the work He came before them with the
highest testimonials, and he was satisfied they could
not do better than place the work in his hands.—
The Chairman said a great many men in the king-
dom were capable of restoring the picture.—Mr.
Potheeary was happy to find the work of restoration
would coat so little. Sir George Nayter had recom-
mended Mr. Smart, and he was sure they would be
safe in his bands. Be would therefore propose that
Mr. Smart be instructed to commence the work as
soon as possible.—Mr. R. Thomas seconded the
proposition—Mr. Drew proposed an amendment
that the picture be re-lined before steps be taken for
its restoration, as it could not well be re-lined after-
wards.—Mr. T. Groves seconded the amendment.
On the question being put, the original resolution
was carried by 9 to 3.—The rector said that it was
probable when the picture was taken dean the
canvass would be found to be worse than Mr. Smart
supposed it to be. Perhaps therefore, it would
meet Mr, Drew's view, sod that of all present, that
if each should be thecae., the opinion of-a vestry

should be taken to consider the propriety of re-
lining it, —Mr. Drew said if the suggestion of the I
rector were added to the resolution he would with-
draw his amendment. This was accordingly agreed
to. A subscription was then commenced in the
room, and a committee was appointed to raise sub-
scriptions to pay the cost of restoring the picture,
amounting, probably, if re-lining is not necessary,
to somewhere about £4O, as Mr. Smart will require
assistance in fixing a stage, and lowering and re-
placing the picture.
ABBOTBBURY.—A Money Order Office will be
opened here on the Ist April next. This will be a
great boon to parties receiving money, or wishing to
send to other parties. Hitherto they have been
,bliged to go either to Weymouth, Dorchester, or
Brid port.
BLANDFORD.—LENTEN SERVICES.—The third
of the series of lectures for Lent was delivered in
Blandford Church, on Wednesday evening, by the
Yen. the Archdeacon Huxtable, M.A., rector of
Sutton Waldron. The rev, gentleman took for his
text verse 34, of the Bth chapter of St. Mark, and
delivered a powerful and solemn address, which was
listened to with earnest attention by a large con-
gregation.
CRANBORNE. -It is with great pleasure that we
hays to record that the Hants, Sussex and Dorset
Fire Office, have liberally paid all claims (through
the agent, Mr. Charles Boor, chymist and bookseller,
East Borough, Wimborne) oii account of the loss by
fire of the live and dead farming stock at Monckton
Farm, in the occupation of Mrs Gaudern. The two
carters, James Stiekland and E. Lorder, have also
been suitably rewarded for their praiseworthy
exertions.

CR ANEORNE PETTY SESSIONS, Thursday.—Before
H. C. Sturt, Esq., (chairman), George Churchill,
Esq., and Rev. Moss King.—John Haskell, of
Verwood, was summoned by Job Bailey, a watcher
for H. Morant. Esq., for trespass in search of game '
on the manor of W. H. Fryer,lEsq. Fined ss. and
costs.—Solomon Lucas, of Handley, was fined .C 1
and costa, for trespass in search of game on the
manor of Lord Rivers, on information of Mr. Charles
Brixey, head kceper.—William Wheeler, William
Anstey, and Frederick Wareham, were fined 10s 64.
each, including costs, for trespass in search of rabbits,
on Lord River's manor, at Handley.—Ellen Amey,
Elizabeth Flucker, and Ann Flucker were fined
4s. 6d. each, including coats, for stealing wood from a
stack at Minchington, belonging to Mr. Thomas
Humby.
W A REH A NI. —Perry SESSIONS, Tuesday.
Before 0. W Farrer, Esq., J. Panton, Eaq., (Mayor,)
and A. H. Minty Esq.—/m case of receiving marine
stores excited much attention. Mr. Cornelius Selby,
ironmonger, was lined under 24 and,rs Vic., for
purchasing copper bolts, without compiling with the
said act, Iv! ich renders it noceasary to enter such
matters in a book. He was also arraigned under a
separate clause in the act, for not having his name
printed in letters six inches in length on a public
signboard.—A case of wife beating was also tried, a
man named Warren being sentenced to be imprisoned
for three months, with hard labour, and to find
sureties thereafter to keep the peace.—Allen Stockley
of Ridge, late servant of Messrs. Pike' was summoned
by Superintendent Bales, under the Merchant Ship.
ping Act, for exposing for sale metal bolts, knowing
them to have been unlawfully obtained. No
evidence was offered, and defendant was discharged.
—William Stevenson was charged with having pur-
chased from a child apparently under the age of 16,
in direct violation of the fourth section of the act.
Mr. Weston appeared for the prosecution. P. C.
Stone swore to an admission by defendant that be
had bought the goods. Mr. Freeman for defendent,
after addressing the Bench, called witnesses in con-
tradiction, and the complaint was dismissed.
CORFE 51ULLEN.—HEARTLF.S5 ROBBERY.—The
shop of a poor widow, named Elizabeth Las rence,
was on Tuesday burglarieusly entered, and two sides
of bacon and other articles stolen therefrom. For-
tunately a clue has been obtained by a tobacco
, box found outside the window, and which it is
supposed the thief dropped. Jacob Willis, a re-
turned convict, who has suddenly decamped, is the
supposed thief.
WIMBO RN E.—PETTY gessiONs, Friday, 2let
March.—Before C. J. Parke, Esq. (chairman), Rev.
Carr Glyn, Willett Adye, and St. John Coventry,A
Esqrs.—The business chiefly consisted of grantinr
distress warrants for poors'-rates, but there was one
of an unusually remarkable kind : C. Ingram (of
Handley) v. Samuel Smart (of Blandford).—The
complainant, in addition to swearing as to de-
fendant's paternity of an illegitimate offspring, swore
to having been supplied by defendant with " savin,
to destroy I,fe." Several witnesses, who had been
summoned on complainant's part were called, but
did net appear.—Mr. F. W. Freeman (who ap-
peared for complainant) thereupon applied for an
adjournment, animadverting in strong terms on the
nature of the evidence.—The Rev. C. G. Glyn
Are these witnesses necessary to your case? It
appears to me to be more serious than a mere bas-
tardy matter.—Mr. Freeman: Yes; and the course
of justice marred if my application be not granted.
—W. H. Atkinson, Esq. (defendant's attorney) :
I with the fullest investigation, and do not object to
the adjournment. 1 shall be enabled to show the
complainant's statements to be utterly false. Ad-
journed till 17th April.
The choral meeting at the Minster on the 23rd of
April (second day of the "Volunteer Bazaar") is
looked forward to here with the greatest interest, it
being expected that two hundred voices, consisting
of the principal choirs of the Salisbury Diocesan
district will join in performing a full Morning
Service. -

PEDESTRIANISM.— On TlD:Witty lad a man, named
Jones, walked two miles in eighteen minutas, through
the streets in this town. . . . .

SHROTON.—A very interesting and instructive
lecture was delivered on Tuesday evening to the
members of the Shroton Literary and Musical Insti-
tution, by the Rev. Frederick Webster Maunsell,
rector of Iwerne Courtney. The subject chosen was
" The United States of America." The chair WU
taken by the Ven. Archdeacon Huxtable, and a
large gathering of the members and friends were
present. The lecturer, in the course of his remarks,
made some happy and well-timed allusions to the
Slavery question in America, showing that, notwith-
standing all that had been written by Slavery de-
fenders, the cruelty which inherently belongs to that
accursed system, was now as fully practised in the
Southern States as it was in the British possessions
formerly. In 1790, the number of slaves in the
United States was 697,887 ; in 1860, it was
3,952,801. The Americans abolished the African
slave trade in 1808, and the business is now carried
on almost entirely at home, certain states breeding
and selling to other states which work the unhappy
slave. There are supposed to be about 350,000
holders of slaves. The lordship of their lot,
strenuously denied by tho owners, Is easily proved
by the strange advertisements, beaded by the figure
of a negro at full speed, in the Southern journals,
several of which advertisements, describing negroes
and negreases, variously marked by iron collars,
scourges, branding irons, bullet wounds, &c., were
read; together with those inserted by the amiable
proprietors of valuable dogs, warranted to take the
trail of a negro slave or wench, and " tree" him or
her, even though twelve hours might have elapsed.
In these slave hunts the foolish negrose sometimes
prefer being shot to be taken. In 1736, when C.
Wesley was in America, he tells us that a much
admired punishment was to draw the teeth of
offending slaves. It appears that, according to the
I laws of the Carolinas and Georgia, a father, although
' he may murder his child by a slave woman for £lOO,
or cut his tongue out for £l4, must on no account
set him free, nor indeed teach him to read or write,
or give him a book—Bible or other religious book.
Tothe position which the North has, up to the
present time, taken with regard to this question,
the lecturer said that as a good negro was worth
£236, and a negress £216, it made it a difficult
matter to deal with the abolition of slavery in the
States. Still it could no doubt be done by degrees,
and it is a fair accusation against the Americans
that they have never made the slightest attempt to
follow the example we set them in expending
.£20,000,000 in buying freedom for our slaves in the
West ladies. Phamphleteers and parliamentary
orators are always reminding us that the Americans
inherited their slavery from us ; this observation has
three quallties—it is true, tiresome, and silly, for
can anyone think that if the United States still
continue a British colony, they would be at this day
cursed with slavery Why then has not Jonathan
done as we did! Simply because Jonathan is very
fond of his dollars, and very fond of bragging, and
he preferred buttoning his pocket and boasting how
he can whip all creation to removing that foul blot
which disgraces him wherever the English tongue is
spoken, except in the United States ; and, as every-
body who gave the matter a thought, including the
noblest of his own land, foretold, has now torn
his( flag to shreds. The rev, gentleman
theffi proceeded to show that the conduct of
those- who advocated starlit or in the Northern
States was not likely toadd to mat result, their propo-
sitions were impraticable, and their denunciations so
abusive as to exasperate the South, and bind firmer
the manacles of the poor slave. They have driven
the Southerners wild with vague alarm, and made
the prospects of the slave more gloomy than ever
should Mr. Lincoln succeed in reconstructing the
Union. The Missouri compromise in 1820, which
set some limit to the spread of slavery, was knocked
in head by the Nebraska bill of 1854. As soon as
the North showed that it was determined to end
that tacit agreement, by which the North was to
arrange the tariffs, and the South the foreign policy
and the home department, mutterings of separation
arose, and preparations to accomplish it were made.
Lynch law prevailed in the South. With any
person suspected of abolition sentiments it was first
the punishment, then the accusation, and last of all
the evidence. Mr. Summer was struck in the
the Senate House by a brother clergyman. The
lecturer in conclusion, expressed his earnest hope,
and one we are sure all will most heartily join in,
that the present nchappy conflict between the North
and Southern States would hasten the time when
the oppressed and down-trodden negro would
be free.—At the close a vote of thanks to the
uleenatermrownsaley.pror;:dybyotPetheChaviilrinlagan'e kwinddlcay carried
unanimously. at the piano-forte, and some of the members
of the Church choir sang a couple of glees, the pro-
ceedings terminated with the National Anthem.