The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-01-27 00:00:00

MRS. GRUNDY AT FAULT.

[The following appeared in our contemporary, the
rekgroaal—

Dein Elln,—Not doubting for one moment the good
intentions of Hrs. Grundy in endenvouring to expose
what elle is pleased to exill abysm, etill she has allowed
her strong prejudices to WM/ her Judgment, and I
cannot but think she is utterly it hnk in calling in
question the acts of our intelligent, Mid / believe per-
fectly disinterested Corporation, as well fit her un-
called-for remarks in reference to the charities. Fon
must not irinpo.e, Sir, that I wish to side unduly with
the parties attacked, but simply to see fair play, and
over (if you will allow me) a proper explanation of
inept matter; which (when merely Judged of super-
Malty, at Hrs. Grundy has door) appear in such • totally
different light. Hoes any intelligent person enplane, that
the parties alluded to se dispenstng our charities, so dia.
prune them as to mart popularity and gain the good
opinion of Mrs. Grundy? No snelt thing. How would
it be postale to act with impartiality and independence,
if every meddlesome, crotchety old women was to be
consulted' Did bln, Grundy, when she gave ker
ChriOmas party, take public opinion as to whom stni
should invite, and what kind of spread she was to give?
, And shall a gentleman, hiough a clergyman, consult
With Mrs. Grundy as to when he shall be pleased to
emit file friends, or clot have to endure the insinua-
tions on ehamehlty east on him? I should like to know,
Sir, if that gentleman could have selected a more con.
veniaut sea,on in which to recruit himself after the
arduous Juties of the last year. Is trot the time for
charity sermons and collections almoif over pro tem?
The town contains but few persons now besides the
Inhabitants, and I do not believe, Sir, that any other
I individual but Mrs. Grundy has complained of the rev.
' gentlernetie absence, or would have him curtail his
vacation by a siggto hour to please thet dissatisfied old
lady. Could his absieti,e be so well endured during the
season when the votaries of (minim are thronging his
temple' Who no well could then administer those
delicate little correction, to the fair eel, in indispen•
, sable, and which no much call for rebuke? Who could
more eloquently expatiate on the great and crying win-
fulness ot disturbing the equability of the genial atoms.
phere which permeates the building on a glowing
Sunday evening, particularly when the ignited oxyhy-
drogen lentis its mild influence ? Under these circum•
stances. Sir, who has inch an eye for a fan in the hands
of the pretty sinner? Who elm would give such hardy
rebuke to them who wilfully display their chrono-
meters, indeed of listening for one short hoar to the
fervid eloquence of the great preacher? If the whole of
the fleet are not here now, has he not left "bin ship"
behind to mmind us of the noble efforts be made in the
Cause of the rr.orals of the town? No, no, Mrs. Grundy,
cease now and for ever your irreverent gossip. Iles-
eroding from the pulpit to the paving, has it never
occurred to the common-place mind of Mrs. Grandy,
that the intention of the Corporation is to give their
town a picturesque appearance. I maintain that oar
fashionable visitors do not come to Weymouth to be re-
minded of the formal streets and square. of London ;
and should we not provide, as far as possible, for their
pleasure and amneemer: ? Mrs. Grundy should bear in
mind that it Is not all our fair visitors who are capable
of bearing a sea voyage to Lalworth ; and the weather
is not always propitious. What could our Cl'Jrpomtion
do that they have not done, to bring, as it were,
the rugged coast of Lulworth to their own doors. Do
not the sinuosities and sharp angles which meet one on
all aides, with here and there a heap of muck, and
broken flags, give a rugged and coast.like appearance to
the town, and even if occasionally • child is drowned in
the puddles, or an elderly gentleman has his ribs
fractured by tripping op between the atones, whet
matters it? Surely the private interests of a few indi-
vidual' mast yield to the public *real. One word more
about the collectorship, and! have done. Would any-
body but Hrs. Grundy for one moment mistake the
motive which prompted the Corporation in giving that
office to a gentleman in no way connected with the
town? He was doubtless selected for that very reason.
Was it not to prevent any possibility of jealousy
amongst, perhapr, numerous rival candidates ; and were
they not anxious to avoid giving the smallest cause for
disturbing that fraternal feeling which has so happily
existed for so many,many years, and which has rendered
our town such a nutiel for the neighbouring counties?
If I have said enough to convince Mrs. Grundy of her
numerous errors of judgment, you will not, I am sure,
Sir, grudge the space necessary in your universally read
Journal, for the appeal of
FIAT JUSTITIA.