The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-05-10 00:00:00

DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

Dr/ItCHESTER, TUESDAY, MAY 10, 1864.

NOTES OF TRE WEEK.

A few days since a ems occurred in the Haul
Court, before Mr. Justice Crompton, which
deserves a pausing notice, as it is another illus-
tration as to the way eerindling joint-stock
bubbles are sometimes got up. Sixteen year.
ago a man named Gunn, was a sailor at Bull,
but he left the sea and became a "projector" of
public companies, now Lad then relieving the
monotony of that title by calling himself •
South American merchant. Anon-ling to his
own aooouut he has brought out several banks,
together with railway and assurance schemes.
But he is careful to tell us at the same time that
be always takes all the risk, and insures the
shareholders and directors against loss At the
trial he said he was worth more than ELMO a-
year, but deol;ned to produce his banker's pass-
book, aud accepted the risk of not doing so. In
the course of his career be "organised the in-
itietive," as he naiad it, of the City of London
Fire and Life Insurance Company, and took out
1.530 shares. What he paid for the shares does
not appear, but be admitted having a hand in the
allotment. The company came to grief, and
some persons were bold and wicked enough to
call it by a very ugly name. Thereupon Gunn
brought out • pamphlet on the subjeit, with a
view, doubtless, to self-justification, but
publishers generally refund to receive it, on the
ironed that it was libellous. Gunn wanted it
published as near the Stock Exchange as possible,
and in Ids extremity he met with an old partner
named Strange, with whom he was ones con-
nected on the Sporting Life. When that Cnri-
nection coned, Gunn took to his Old plans, and
Strange went into the refreshment department
of the international Exhibition. On Good
Friday, 1863, the two met, and then Gunn
made known his future plans to Strange. He
expressed himself sick and tired of public coin-
' panics, complained of loss from the City Insurance
Company, and said he intended to go into the
discount business with another named hillwoixl,
and make 1:40,000 that year. Strange was en-
gaged as secretary' at £l5O a-year, and he duly
Ratified himself in the office in Cheapside. All
be appears to have had to do there was to write
a little, see gentlemen who called about public
companies, and keep in countenance • lad—the
only other portion employed. The titles of this
firm in Cheapeide shows how replicates of titles
art made. Here were the names of "Gaon and
btilwood," 'Gunn and C 0.," and "A. H. °urn')
The exact divino of the three firms is not ex-
plained. In course of time Gunn got over his
fit of disgust with public companies, for we 00
the Prince of Wales' Hotel Company started in
June at this office in Oheispei4 and shares
allotted in November. Strange was appointed
secretary to the company, and Gunn took several
hundred shares, but it was sworn that he never
paid up more than £lOO. A great many other
people, however, paid deposits, although they do
not appear to have remained satisfied with their
speculation, for some of them ipplied for repay-
ment, and then in the words of Strange, " the
whole thing exploded," and the secretary got no
salary. Once more Gunn began forming new
companies. He is said to hare got up credit,
insurance, and general sompanies, and to have
been, in fact, a general "company monger."
All this time Strange was being inadequately
paid, and at length • dispute non about a
promissory note, resulting in an action which
brought about this exposure. It may be added
iu addition to the hotel scheme that while the
purchase money for the Ind was to be .C 12.500
it was to hays been sold to the eompany for
£16,500. It is to be regretted that the Peers
and the higher order of Commoner' do not re-
fuse to lend the prestige of their names to
undertakings " projected" by such men as
Gunn. It is not now, as it was in the days
of "Stag" hunting, when silly young noblemen,
who lent their name*, had te pay something
handsome for the honour of being " • director"
to then public speculat'oua They are paid
for the accommodatiou of lending their munes
to a prospectus, and the limited liability prin-
ciple enables them, for • while, to shine as stars
in the commercial world, without incuning the
danger of becoming falling stars,—or in other
words, of bei4g bald responsible for more than
they actually subscribe for. At the present
time there are spores of limited liability bubble
schemes &Soak, and the public would do well not
to encourage a mania which bids fair to outdo
the memorable railway madness of nineteen years
Sir John Ramsdell has got into disgrace with
the Batley Liberal Registration Society, in con-
sequence of his having intimated to them that
he cannot support the second reading of Mt.
Baines's Borough Franchise Extension Bill. Sir
John states his reasons for coming to his decision
as follows :—" In 1859 the Lehr al members of
the House of Commons united in rejecting the
Reform Bill of Lord Derby's Government, in the
expectation of passing • better measure, and im-
mediately after the general election they pined
the present Government in power avowedly for
that purpose. In 1860 the Government intro-
duced their Reform Bill in redemption of their
Piedra That bill failed, sad in the four amnions
which hare lion ensued the attempt has never
been renewed. The supporters of the Govern.
meet have acquiesced in their abstaining to in-
troduce another Reform Bill, because, from the
state of feeling in the country, it was obvious
that they could not succeed in carrying such a
renews. But, if the Government avow their
inability, it is clear that no private member of
Parliament can have any prospect of success.
And it appears,. therefore, to me that the wiser
and more dignified nurse would be to abstain
from introducing another bill at a time *ben it
is certain to be rejected." The smociation
paused • resolution to the sleet that the letter
was by no mans satisfactory. Sir F. Crossley
intimated to the same association his intention
to support the bill.
The Priam of Wales is • doomed man. The
fiat has gone forth—the Marquis de Boise, ha.
spoken 60 word I Could His Royal nem
but nines his position, would feel w at
awful respoosibility nets upon him. The heir
appoint to the British erne has actually
Ashen hands with the revolution i. he has
shaken hands with Garibaldi, and 4111 aio-
anquently be the firel victim when the people of
titi country lime up in rekellion agihisi their
solemn We sive th• imalsclimory piping in
full. In a &We on insain Asti/Aim, in es

Corps Legialstif, on Wedneedzy lut, the
Marquis said :

Eeerybo.ly knows whin ban lately mood at the oilier
side of the Channel ; it is what I call • happy oocur•
mace ; for wt. wit is done on the other side of
the water, whatever presages revolution, I applaud
with all my tenet. If some persona have been grieved
anol deeply efilieted at seeing the social head of a great
country debase himself se be hue done i if we bars
nee--oh ninon of our epoch ! skean for • certain
econtryi not for us !—U we have seen the heir to the
crown shake hands with a filibuster (hear, bear)--for
my part my been swelh with joy for It. revolution
—revolution invoked bgt those Mod will be its first
enlists. Let not this linprint prince deocive bins-
self (matmera)—the revoletion never pardons (in-
ensuing tainalt)—it takes advantage (contagion of
merman; interruption). lam told that lam wrong
in speaking thus. I admit one thing—net lam not
quite veneer of myself at this moment ; but it ill 000111
noises tree that princes who offer tbe baud to neon-
lion an always its victims. (Agitation.)

. _
Of course we in England, who know the
people too well to fear a revolution, look upon
this outburst as very amusing but the best
part of Um tirade is, that in which the Marquis
confesses that be is" not quite master of
himself" All our readers, we ate sure, will say
" this is unquestionably true, and that it is
a most fortunate cireumstanoe that destin_y has
not made him master of other people." But it
is not England alone that displeases M. de
Boissy. On the following day be tumbled into
• equablile with the President of the Assembly,
o/ which he is a member. Having complained
of the inaccuracy of the report of his the day
before, he announced that "the Moniker is no
longer the official journal, accurately reporting
our debates, but a Moniker telling lies with
the Authorisation of the Government." After
a marvellously polite altercation, the marquis
said that he had sent his perverted and sup-
pressed words abroad; whereupon the president
retorted upon him chastely :—"You address
yourself to foreigners because you are not
powerful enough tocsins scandal at home." M.
de Belay did not like this, and charged the
President with insulting him; on which the
President called the Chamber to assist him, and
the Marquis was voted into abject silence.
Not only is the Prince of Wales doomed as
our future ruler, but old England is also doomed
as • nation. The awful warning this time comes
from Spain,and the thing must surely be brought
to paw A new project is on the lapis in Spain,
and the Spaniards are in a:stades in the discus.
sion of its merits. The project is none other
thee that of sitting a ship canal through Spain
tot the purpose of opening a communioat'es
between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean •
thus reducing Gibraltar to a mere geographiss
phenomenon—or, in other words, rendering it
entirely worthless for the protection of Bridals
commerce. Of course "all things are possible,"
but to such a scheme as this, the Sties canal
must henceforth sink into utter insignificance.
The probability of a war between England and
Germany has been the chief theme disc.issed by
the London daily press during the past week.
The Morning Post, supposed to speat the
sentimenta of Lord Palmerston, breathes a war
note daily. It has no faith in the Conference,
and declares that the object of the Germans is to
ii!sy fast and loose with us, to baulk us, and
outwit us in the craft of diplomacy," while
they push forward their forces, and enlarge
their demands on the already half-ruined Danes.
This journal, in its isms on Thursday morning,
says;

We have no favourable reautte to report concerning
yesterday's meeting of the ltaferenoe. The proposal
of an unlit et remains simply an unaccepted propmal,
the excises of • want of inetruiricris being again on-
veniently pleaded as the reason for the adjournment of
a den on upon this question ,ct Monday, the 9th inst.
The previous prommlinp of the Gerntan Government
forbid our being surprised at the fact that the Confer•
nee should have again separated without taking that
Mat step towards pesos, a readineas to take which is •
good test of the sincerity of a belligerent But. al-
though ills not a matter for surprise, it is one for deep
regret, as it Is evident that a perseverance in sun an
unworthy evasion mast make the boat serious eon-
setisteno a Ineei•stle. But, however we may be bound
by amsWerations of etiquette to give a fennel credence
to then pretests, we must as far.. possible (nerd
spiest Om delay being turned to the otaten.l advantage
of those by Irina they are put Bimini. At the pre-
sent Moment an Austrian squadron is known to be on
Its way towards the Baltic. What may be its professed
object, or whet we may be officially assured are the
limit' of the emir, we ears not. The assurances and
the seta of the German Comminute throughout this
benne have not harmonised with each other In ft,
matiper to allow Its to take toy 'Murano for graitt4
and It behoves us, no far as we out, to am that • seep is
not taken whin would make it an imponbility for
England to rest satiated with diplomatic remonstrances.
Tbe entry of the Austrian squadron into the Bettie
would be each • step, and we have much aatisfaction in
stotng that a portion of the Channel tel is detailed to
take we that mob • dimes mom toward, the annihila-
tion of Dminsark Is not gesdk. Sir nowt," M'CliMrielt%
alp, the Akron, bee already promoded to the North
Sae, sad every arraegnsent is completed by which the
whole effitadroo ran be rendered instantly available for
whatever amen may be required of us.
It ii trite the Aurora has been dispatched to
the North Sea, but although the Austrian fleet
has entered the Baltic, and the Prussian army
Is preparing to march into the Danish territory,
the mission of the Aaron', according to Lord
Clarence Paget's explanation on Friday night,
is simply "to watch the interests of British
shipping." The Time, too, which it said to be
in communication with some of the members of
tiovernmentano occasionally blows& blast of the
defiance, no WS loudly than the Post. The
leading looml has no faith in the Couferenoe,
and darkly hint. that the soener it is broken tip ,
the better, that we may be left untrammelled to
sot in another direction. In its issue of Friday
it says :
In bringing together the Conference, our government
acted to the best of its power. We may now add oar
epinim that the meetings of this assembly will be
attended with n? good result,. The gams of waiting
for instruction is being played in • manner whin
ptoves that the German Powers do not etre to show
even a *emblems of respect for the negotiations into
which they have entered. Under these oirounistances
Um project may well be a,bandned, for • farther per.
anteing ia it will be derogatory to the dignity of
and will apparently be of no bent& to
Deli:67l When the COSIOVNIMIII is at an end we shall
at least be free to act witraingnelied by pending negotia•
°IC diarist, ltowebati Call that, initead of
flying into a theatrical passion with the German
Powers, and abusing them for their
conduct, the Times had condescended to
throw a few rays of light upon the new
ot imaginary hitches of Government
We all hnow, as well as the oracle of Printing
House-square, that Europe in general, and
England in particular, is at this moment being
humbugged by some of the most contemptible
devices of diplomatic jugglery • what we want to
know is, whether, to use a vulgarism, re are to
riontinue to "grin and bear it?' The Poet,
breaking through the miniaterial proprieties,
speaks as if it stood among the people. it be-
lieves that the popular sentiment in both Eng-
land and France demands that an immediate
stop should be put to the German aggression
upon Denmark; but that, whatever the French
may think, the English are unsninions as to the
"Injustice, the brutality, the wickedness" of the
Gemara And then comes a shrill trumpet
blast, which will be re-echoed throughout
England :
" But bow long is Earful to 'soggily looldng
goon tryig Maisel siseghtif, slia these liajOA malt*:
knit We will sok impugn the wisdom that In
hitherto Miamian from minim up We emery with
the stae • but we Rink oely the mind of every
whom opinion deserves Mention. when we
my that even if Unload have to bebiend Denmark
single-beaded. it +add be better to brave all risks of •
bold and manly defence of the right than te bees,..
feriae after the fact to behaviour as Migrant, women,
brutal, and taloa as that of the Dermas Wire The
hews that the Chaise.] Fleet was in the Downs, sat
could be ready for sea in twenty.four hours' notice, nil
received with enthusiasm thrortosat the wintry. It
would sive even more vans/ to hear that It was
under !mini/dine nisei to or the Baltic, to de
whatever t Beat can dote stay the grogram of the most
ruthless invasion of nimbi= tones"
This, to our fancy, has something of the tree
ring about it. his exastly what Earl Russell
should bare conveyed to the Confessions an
Wednesday. Indeed, the effect of even a fainter
utterance of the same tone, coupled with the
distinct sesnranise that an early telegram to
Admiral Desires in the Downs would give=
tical effect to his utterances, would be mart
It might, perhaps would, have broken up the
Conference, but it would have brought about •
remarkable change in the "ides," of the
Emperor of the French and the maims of the
Germans.
The old cry, "Onto Richmond," ltu again
been raised in Federal America, and stirring
warlike wawa may be hourly expected from Vir-
ginia. The army of the Potomac is again
wowing towards the Confederate capital, and
General i.e has crossed the Rapidan,land it is
supposed that he will speedily lopen the spring_cissepeign North
centre an offensive movement. The
centre all then hopes in the gnomes of General
Grant, the new comasender-in-chiet Three forces
are to be directed against Richmond, thistime cue
-ender the immediate direction of Grant, a seccond
threatening it along the James's river, and •
third from Savannah. It is believed its the
North that Grant's plan—whatever it may be,
WOW one ammo to know what it is—ls a good
one, unleme the enemy seemed and best him in
lets& The Soothers papa; however tell us
that Ellwood is Ile strongly fortified that
if ski many approach they 11111 weer thorn.