The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-02-14 00:00:00

BATH AND WEST OF ENGLAND
AGRICULTUR A L SOCIETY.

A monthly meeting of the Council was held on
Saturday, the 4th inst. at the Railway Hotel, Taunton,
under the presidency Of the Right Hon. Lord Taunton.
There were also present: Colanelz Acland, Archer, sod
Luttrell; Dr. Gillett; Messrs. D. Adair, H. G. Andrews,
R. G. Badcock, It, IL Bush, J. H. Cotterell, T.
Dancer, J. Daw, F. S. Drewe, T. Duckham, li,, Dyiuond,
DI. Farrant, J. Fry, C. Gordon, John and Jonathan
Gray, B. N. Grenville, J. D. Heiner*, J. Hooper, H.
P. Jones, J. E. Kuollys, W. G. Langton' M.P., J.
Lush, H. G. Idnysey, G. S. Poole, W. Porter, J. W.
Sillifsnt, E. U. Vidal, H. Williams, H. St. John Hanle,
and J. Goodwin.

THE FINANCE COMMITTEE presented their annual
statement, from which it appeared that the Society has
now a funded capital of £4,923 125., and that the value
of the plant, after making the usual allowance for de-
preciation, is £3,084 ss. 10.1.
THE SALISBURY DEPOT sTMN reported throngh Mr.
Drewe, that on the occasion of their visit to that ancient
and interesting ,ity, they were most cordially received
and hospitably entertained by the Mayor and local
authorities. The site proposed for the Show Yard wan
in every respect eligible, and he was bound to bay on
behalf of the deputation that every member of it was
impressed with the extraordinary determination of all
they met, to render the Salisbury Meting one of the
very best the society has ever had. This was so strongly
expressed not only by the Mayor, but by gentlemen of
influence in the neighbourhood, that he could not
refrain from thus prominently elluding to it. Mr.
Moysey, as one of the committee or stewards for con-
ducting the arrangements of the approaching annual
meeting, entered into full particulars respecting the
Salisbury Show Yard, remarking that it lied been found
necessary to have a larger area than that appropriated 1
to the purposes of the Royal Agricultural Society on the
OESSAiOII of their visit, and that this had been liberally`
conceded by the authorities, although it would entail
upon them an additional cost of something like £lOO.
The show yard would, under the circumstances,
be in every respect convenient and commodious. Toe
proposed site wee not more than a quarter of a mile
from the city, and that was a very great advantage, it
woold be only separated by a roadway from the temple.
went trial fields. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Moysey then pro-
ceeded at some length to explain the course taken by
the committee or stewards of arrangements for the
Hereford meeting, under the powers oeriferred upon
them by the resolution of August 6th, and stated that
they had been fortunate in obtaining the assistance and
co-operation of Mr. Speakman, of Bath, whose address
and business habits were such as in every respect to
qualify him to represent the committee or stewards in
any matters wherein prompt assistance or co-operation
was required by other officers of the society, or byt
pereons having business at the meeting. Mr. Moysey,
in conclusion, drew attention to the fact of the forma-
tion of a Southern Counties Agricultural Society, with
the satisfactory understanding that the County of Wilts,
as forming a part of the Bath and West of England
Society's original district, will not be interfered with
by the new society.

EXHIBITION OF IMPLEMENTS AT WORK IN THE FIELD.
—A long discussion ensued on the subject of the
working of implements. such as steam ploughs, reapers,
mowers, and other machines not generally brought into
use among agriculturists; and the opinion was very
generally expressed that the contiguity of the trial fields
to the show-yard at Hereford next June, and at Salis-
bury in 1866, will very greatly add to the interest and
utility of the Society's meetings, and form a precedent
for regulating the choice of sites in future years.
THE Brit-Laws.—Mr. DTMOND reported that the
bye-laws of the Society had been collated and arranged,
and that a printed copy would be sent to each member
of the Council preparatory to a special meeting, for
their consideration and revision. _ _ _

Paz JOURNAL. —A copy of the Society's Journal, vol.
12, part 2, was laid upon the table, and it was stated
that members generally would receive their copies in
the course of the ensuing week. This part contains all
the prize sheets and regulation papers for all depart.
metals of the Hereford meeting.
The CONTRACTS COMMITTEE reported that the folk win g
tenders had been accepted :—Printing and disposing of
the Society's catalogues Mr. Woodley, of Taunton.
Supply of refreshments at the Hereford Meeting. let
class, Mr. S. H. Mountford, of Worcester; second class,
Mr. W. Russell, of Hereford. Erection of hoarding for
show yard, after the Hereford Meeting, Mr. G. Pollard,
Taunton. Canvas for cattle sheds, Mrs. IL Piggott,
69, Bishopgate-street without, London.
The following new members were elected :—His Grace
the Duke of Cleveland, Battle Abbey, and Cleveland-
house, St. James's ; Sir C. R. B. Baughtou, bert, of
Downton-hall, Ludlow; Mr. P. Morris, Whitwick,
Bromyard ; Mr. A. Ennar, Hazel Manor, Compton
Martin; Mr. J. Sinkins, ,L.P., Frome ; Mr. R. H.
Capper, Nortgate, St. Leonard's, Hereford; Mr. R. N.
Hooper, Llansannor Court, Cowbridge ; Mr. J. C. B.
Lethbridge, Tregeare, Leominster; Mr. J. S. Whitaker,
Bretton, Westbury; Mr. E. E. P. Kelsey, The Close,
Salisbury; Mr. E. P. Buttery, Salisbury; Mr. J. R..
Parrimore, Dinedar-oonrt, Hereford;
,Mr. T. Adams,
New-house, Marden, Hereford; Mr. J. Monklionse,
The Stowe, Whiteney, Hereford.

THE TRUE STORY OP Sr. VALENTINIE—Of all the
saints in the calendar St. Valentine is undoubtedly the
most popular among all classes of society, and at the
same time most generally known—at all events by
name. That such a saint did actually exist is admitted
by all as an undoubted fact, although but little is known
of the pious man whose name hoe become associated
with the devotees of the blind god. People may doubt
the existence of Shakspere, or Romulus and Remus, but
no one has been bold enough to question the existenoe
of St. Valentine. He is no mythical personage. His
name is to be found not only in the learned productions
of antiquaries of all nations, but also in the breviary,
in ecclesiastical histories, and in the Book of Common
Prayer. Histories speak of his deeds, his earnestness,
his endurance of physical suffering, and his cruel death,
and he held an honoured place in the noble army of
martyrs. But be lived and died at a time so distant
that we have but little left recorded of him, although
the custom of interchanging tokens of love on his day
in the calendar has been a habit among us from a time
whereof the memory of man runneth not to the contrary.
St. Valentine was one of those noble priests of Rome
who in the early days of Christianity was not afraid to
open his mouth in defence of his religion, and boldly
denounced Paganism. So unsparing were his denuncia-
tions against the tenets of the false religion, and so suc-
cessful was he in gaining converts to Christianity, that
he was apprehended by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Claudius, and sent to the Prefect of Rome. That
functionary, finding all his endeavours to make Valen-
tine forsake his faith fail, sentenced him to a cruel
death. The worthy priest was, on the 14th day of
February, about the year 270, brutally beaten with
clubs, and then beheaded. The greater portion of his
remains were first buried in a stately church dedicated
to his memory, and are now in the Church of St.
Praxedes, at Rome. Not long. after his death, the
martyr was canonised—a church was built at Rome to
his memory, and one of the gates of the Eternal City,
on the old Flaminian Way, now familiar as the Ports
del Popolo, was known as the Ports Valentini. This is
about all we know of this popular saint, and to connect
his name with the popular doings of St. Valentine's.
day we shall have to go further back into the history
of ages. We should add that a miracle of his is handed
down to memory, and that various churches claim part
of his remains; this one an arm that s finger, and a
third the head of the saint.—The Faetuly
Magazine.
STATISTICS OP THE PSERAGE.—Asoording to the new
edition of "Debrett's Peerage" for 1865, there are 24
dukes, 34 marquesses 197 earls, 57 viscounts, and 215
barons, of the United Kingdom; 117 of whom are
baronets, 430 have been married, the remaining 97 still
being in a state of single blessedness; 80 have obtained
academical honours at Oxford, whilst 50 have been
receivers of the same from the sister university ; only
9 peers are in holy orders, two of whom are bishops
(Bath and Wells, and TWICO, %Male, and Achonry);
743 of the younger sons of peers have obtained honours
of various distinctions, have had or still hold Govern.
merit appointments • and 974 of the daughters of
peers are married. There are only 14 peeresses in their
own right. Last year there died 4 duke& (Athole,
Newcastle, and the second and third Dukes of Cleve-
land), 1 marquess (Bristol), 8 earls (Aberdeen, Gosford,
Poulett, Morley, Cadogan, Stair, Carlisle, and Clare,
(this last title becoming extinct), 1 viscount (Sidmouth),
4 barons (Ashburton, Renner', Rodney, and Somer-
ville), 1 lord bishop (Ely), and 1 peeress in her own
right (Ruthven).
MILITARY BREECH:LOADING RIPLES.—A prize of £lOO
Is announced to be given by the National Ride Associa-
tion for the most efficient and serviceable military
breech-loading rifle, to be competed for at Woolwich on
the 30th °Utley, 1865. The prise is open to gun-
makers and Others ; entrance fee £5, to be paid on or
before the let of May next. The conditions of the
contest, seventeen in number, as drawn up by authority
of the association, commence by stating that the bore
must be minimum 150; each rifle must take the Rune- '
plug provided by the council from muzzle to breech.
Length of barrel, minimum, 2ft. 9n.; maximum.
3ft.3in.; of any form and of any material; weight 9ilbs. ;
full-stocked, with metal ramrod and military sights;
mechanically-fitting ramrods not allowed. The fore-
sight is to be fixed to the barrel, and incapable of ad-
justment; backsight to he attached to the barrel in
front of the lock. Coder the head of ammunition we
find "cartridges containing their own ignition," with a
note appended, stating that cheapness, as far as
is consistent with efficiency, safety, and durability,
should be attended to, and the cartridges should, if
possible, not occupy greater space in bulk than the
present Enfield ammunition. The 16th condition states
that the mere figure of merit shall not necessarily
entitle a competitor to the prize, which will be awarded
by the council to such rifle as shall in their opinion
combine accuracy with other elements of efficiency, so
as to be of the greatest"merit and utility for military
purposes. Should no rifle be found to attain the
standard which, in the opinion of the council, is
necessary for efficiency and serviceableness as a military
rifle, the prize will not be awarded.

TkIR MONASTERY AND THE CATHEDRAL IN NORWICH.
On Sunday and Sunday week annoyance was occasioned
to the regular attendants at the Catbedral by the
appearance of some of Father Ignatius boys, and of
the "Sisters of Mount Calvary." The boys are robed
in dresses like those used by Phelps when playing the
character of Cardinal Wolsey—scarlet skull cap, scarlet
long cloak, white alb, and scarlet ribbons over all, with
sandals for their feet. On Sunday, sonie time after
the service was commenced, two or three of these
urchins made their way into the Cathedral, and there,
with all the assurance of men, walked up to the altar
and prostrated themselves before the communion-
table, and on that occasion some of the "Sisters of
Mercy" were there also. As these parties could only
have been present for the purpose of annoying the
congregation, or for the purpose of drawing all the
attention to themselves, it was determined on Sunday
Feb. 5, to close the doors,—after the service had com-
menced, —and refuse admission to them. Accordingly,
on Sunday afternoon, about a quarter of an hour after
the minister, Mr. Balmer, had commenced his sermon,
four or five of these boys, dressed, as wehave described,
presented themselves at the doors, and finding that they
were locked out, tapped at the vestry windows and
asked for admission, which was refused them on
account of the late hour at which they presented them-
selves. A policeman being on duty in the close, and
his attention having been called te the congregation
of these "scarlet" boys, accompanied by 200 or 300
little boys and girls, he was directed to clear the
Cathedral doors of the annoyance, which he quietly
did, and the lads went book to the monastery.