The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1867-10-08 00:00:00

.10orritt Countti bps

TUESDAY. OCTOBER 8. 1867.

NOTES OF THE WEEK.

The Roman question has been the chief foreign
topic of interest during the week. The downfall of the
tottering tempo's' power of the Pope is evidently
imminent, yet it is not to be acoelerated y
spasmodic patriotic effort,. The Papal states are
kepi in a state of chronic alarm by bands of insurgents,
and the hireling troops of the Holy Father are
powerless to restore order. while Italy is impatient
for the unification of the country. The September
oonventioo, however, stops the way. That was the
price exacted by the French Government for the
withdrawal of the army of occupation from Rome,
and it ii for this Italian government to keep the
eingemenente on condition ef which that withdrawal
took Plana Rut NM false position in which France
is thus placed has been revealed even to Frenchmen
by the arrestor (1. aril:W.ll They see that in mock-
ing the aspirations of Italy they are alienating a
kindred peePle and making an enemy where they
may some day need a friend. The liberal journals of
Prance are already suggesting a revision of the
September Convention, and the only revision
possible is that which removes the harrier
which keeps Garibaldi from Rasa.. so
long as that barrier is kept an by praacia
poliey, Itsly is and must be the alienated friend
if not even the enemy of France. 9be can
only wait till the first French difficulty tells her that
the time for action has come. The domestic
necessity of the French empire is Italy's neoeisity
too; bat its first foreign necessity will be Italy $ Opportunity. Italian statesmen and the disowning
portion of the Italian people probaqv me that this
necessity may be near, and that when it °omen it will
give them Rome. go long as France is willing and
able to enforce) the observance of the September Con•
volution the Italian Government is wise in resisting,
at any 0 et, all *uterus' attempts upon the Pa
territory; but if changes omen in Frames, or
With are WI elsewhere, shorn./ be glad be PliehMa

Italian neutrality by terminating the Convention in
the interest of Italian unity. It is in this way, and
not by any sudden spasm of patriotic effort, that the
Roman question will be rattled. Ills one of those
questions which only ask for time.
The Nene Free Preen of Sunday °outlaw a very
important paragraph with regard to the futu.re of
the Papacy. It asserts that at the death of the
present Pope tbe seat of the Italian Government
will be definitely removed to Rome, and that city
will then be proclaimed the capital of Italy.
Tbe same paper also states that Prussia supporta
Italy's demand for • revision of the September
Convention.

Frugal& is fully alive to the importance in any
future conflict with Fromm of having at bar disposal
an efficient navy, and • bill is about to be laid before
Um North German Parliament demanding the
grant of ten million thalers for two yaws fnr
the purpose of increasing the German fleet. Should
hostilities break out immediately Prussia would
and herself at a fearful dimdvantage in this respect.

The French Cabinet is raid to have addressed to
its representatives at the South German Courts a
circular in reply to Count Busnark's note. This
circular, we are told, "lays particular stress upon
the fact that the Prussian Government most solemnly
declared that it would not of ita own initiative over-
step the line of the Maine."
The Abyssinian pioneer expedition, under the
command of Colonel Merewether, left Aden for
Massowah ea the 28th ult , two or three weeks lister
than was expected. No further news has been
received of the captives.

This present social aspen of England affords no
gigue of that milennium of peace and happiness on
earth which Dr. Cuminiog so glibly and pleasantly
fortnight, but is rather calculated to inspire with
alarm all save those who have an abiding faith
that good sense and right feeling continue the
characteristics of the nation. Fenianism has shown
nisi( with such impudence and ferocity as to have
become a terror throughout the country, the revela-
tions lately made as to the trades unions outrages of
the north, indicating so much of cram ignorance and
brutal lawlessness in the manufacturing centres, have ,
appalled 'moiety, and the fearful extent to which in-
fanticide prevails amongst all classes of society, has
ito forced itself upon public attention, an to have
I become one of the peening questions of the day.
I And whin le the origin of this deplorable elate of
things? The pre-disposing causes have, doubtless,
been various, but chief amongst them will be found,
as we believe, sham-patriotism, ahem-philanthropy,
and sham-gentility, all of which have been developed
In large proportions during the past few years. the
Impressionable illogical Irish, suffering from the social
and economical condition of their country, were
fanned into insurrection by political adventurers, and
mitered with enthusiasm into • crusade against the
British G 'reroute:A, aided by men • tho had volon-
tarily expatriated themselves but in the far wart 'e-
ln their old visionary
adcharacter, and fancied that
the establishment of an Irish republic would
remedy all the ills Ireland suffer. from. Putting aside
the tamability of such an enterprise, the history of
Ireland does not afford any grounds for supposing
that if the emerald isle had its own king again, that
circumstance would so change the habits of the
people that they would by steady industry, and
wise forethought, and sturdy independence
help themselves to prosperity and happiness.
Prior to the conquest of Ireland by Henry
IL the stets of that country was deplorable
Society was wholly disorganised. Five princes
nominally divided the country between them under
a supreme insular sovereign, but the real governors
were the leaders of tribes, who exercised despotic
sway within a limited district, and met the claim
of a superior lord to their dependence by an annual
tribute or an annual battle, as convenience dictated.
It is trne that the advance of civilization has dope
much for the country since that time, but we have
no reason to suppose that the old internecine wars
and disorganization of society would not again prevail
if Ireland were separated from Great Britan to-
morrow. But sham-patriotism, disregarding the
teaching of the past and profoundly indifferent to
I the dictates of common sense, hal arisen, and its
I consequences have been an insurrection recently
which proved ludicrously abortive in its attempt to
overthrow the English power, and now • series of
imamate outrages against English society. Chief
amongst them is the murder of poor Serjeant Brett,
which is sought to be palliated from murder to "a
political offence" because the aisessin did not take
his life with "mine aforethought.' But the deter-
mination "to rescue" prisoners, embraced the
murder, if need be, of all who reeisted them, and
was therefore constructive "malice" against the
whole of the peaoe offline@ in charge of the men.
But the calm wisdom of a judicial "summing up"
at the trial of thine who will be arraigned on the
charge of murder at the tarter part of next month,
will, we doubt not, quickly demolish the sophistry
of such • defence. It is highly creditable to the
stipendiary magistrate at Manchester, that he has
displayed so much patience and forbearance in
performing s difficult duty, and bag not suffered
himself to be cajoled or browbeaten by the petty
conduct of Mr. Ernest Jones, or the wild utterances
of the *Monies for the prisoners. The Bloomsbury
cutesy', resulting in the death of a bandsman, is
dearly another Fenian mordi,r, but the guilty ruffian
seems likely to escape. Near the mine spot • police-
man hes been attacked by three men, and left
insen-
sible in the roadway. Al Sheffield • recruiting
I sergeant, refusing to give money to "the Fenian cause"
was felled to the ground by an Irishman, who then
decamped, and has not been arrested. The armoury
and ammunition magazine of the Harrow rifle corps
I has been blown up, under suspicion circumstances.
We hear of Fenian meetings at Middlesborough,
and woods —above all things—being given in aid
of "the cause." Fenianistn, in one form or another,
exhibits itself in all porta of the country, and it
needs to be dealt with vigourously and promptly.
Sham philanthrophy caused the former cements for
the outbreak in Ireland to escape their just deserts,
but this a wit not occur again, or it may provoke the
people to take the law into their own hands, and
"lynch" not only those found at their lawless work,
hut even such as they may suspect of complicity.
From sham philasithrophy also have arisen the
desperate traderunions outrages lately revealed.
The working classes have been petted and pandered
to as the very salvation of the country, till they
naturally thought they ought therefore to govern,
and that the destruction of property, intimidation of
independent workers, and the murder of those
resolute in their freedom, was but • justifiable
means to the sod in viow—their supremacy. Work-
ing men, like the rest of the world, are neither all
good nor all bad. Many, we know, exercise in-
dustry, and honesty, and forethought, but they have
their reward, for nothing "pays" so well; hut there
are those amongst them who are culpably careless.
Then by sham gentility our higher classes have lost
much of their old gentleness, and goodness, and
concern for those around them ; class distinctions are
rigidly drawn, and, as Mr. Long said the other day
at Broughton Giffird. "the owners of land in the
uountry and the occupiers of houses in town are lon
much wrapped up in chili nee pursuits to care much
, for those who labour in other spheres." And ibis
lies of sympathy has a prejudicial effect upon all
classes of society. The loose morality which pervades
' all ranks is one of the painful signs of the times. The
daily journals contain advertisements continually
repeated, offering apartments to ladies during
their acoonohement, stating that baby linen
and all necessaries are available, and that
the infant may be left. Without referr-
ing to the inquests which have excited so
much attention, it is pretty clear that very little
care is taken of infants so "left," and that many of
, them die of neglect. The public can know but little
of the result of these secret transactions, but at is
high time that some inquiry were made into them.
One of thine skilled matrons advertises that her
i private foundling institution -for that it virtually is
—wee "established" at such a date, showing that
child after child has been born at her house, where
_ the "baby may be left." But what has become of
' these ineweente? They never can be openly
" acknowledged by their parents; and when payments
I cease, what becomes of the children? Can any one
doubt what follows? And ibis state of things
manifests itself also in the lower CISOIMPS, varied only
; by the social stems of the respective mothers who
are not wives. The immorality prevailing in the
large towns, and in smell ones also, is but too con-
tinually apparent, and we lately beard of a angle
wog". in Dorchester, who has been the mother of
four children, all of whom have quickly died, and the
matter has forced itself upon the attention of the
authorities. All then are matters which require the
early consideration of the legislature, for the capital
punishments attached to some of the Organs we
tlll/0 named, have become ioopendiyao and it it
evidently required that they 'should be carried into
effect or otherwise abolithed,and some efficient
remedy for those glaring evils provided instead.
A rather curious loop-hole has been discovered in
the Reform Act The rues necessary to he paid as
qualification for voters, is the poor rate only : no
•otion of any other rate is made in the Act,
roe coossquenee is that the compound householder
still exists in full blow as to the borough rates, ins-
provemeet rates, he., which amount in Dorchester
to as much as the poor rate
Our old friend the Dorset Chronicle is certainly in
a had way • it has found out that silly twaddle is
not popular, and, as it has nothing else on hand, it
is at • loss to fill op its columns; so it has favoured
, its seeders, if any remain with g most instructivem
article on the duty of Ch:oherardens, as exhibited
I in St. Peter's Church on September 2911. Alluding
to • notice which appeared in our columns, it says,
"evidently from the pen of • clergyman.' Now we
would advise our contemporary not to be too rash in
, giving ite judgment. We have heard that tortoni
• extraordinary articles signed " R.C." are by a
/ clergyman; but we have never even suggested
clergyman writing such
Lb. poesibdity of any
I •Irisilliag nonsense. And if our notice had been
I written by • clergyman (or priest shall we say?) we
should "nit be thankful that in the protein day of
, unfaithfulness end Bishop-worshipping there wee
lore end there* men who would not foresee an able
and basest brother, because he had been insulted
mad wooed by • Blimp. The Chronic* add

"Hoch a puff was, no don* considered the best
means of attractiog • crowded congregatioe.“ If
it
wee an, the oonsideration wee correct, as a very
large congregation wee present—some having come
four or five miles on purpose to hear the ler
Maribor. But. auth. Ckeesiele pretends to been
well up in the law—and really it is amusing to note
His extent of its pretensioasnees—it is • pity it did not
give the churchwarden • little better advice. What
he intended to do be could not do. What he did
do wee nothing but the ordinary custom of many
churches, and quite unohjectiocable. The way in
which it was done was • different matter. lied
legality been the cause, notice would have been given
in common courtesy and deoency. keen ion& was
intended, it was purposely kept seoret. Bat Mr.
Acworth was not taken by surprise. He had already
been informed that there were persons in Dorchester
who could do, to please the Bishop, teat ordinary
men would shrink from. And so hay a 4 preached
in this diocese for nearly forty years, and having
done so on the previous Sunday, close to Salisbury,
he is saked in Dorchester for his letters of °Mom
and his license, neither of which he produced. We
beg to add, for the inetruction of our readers and
OVOC.OffiCIOUII churchwardens that while it is quite
proper ta have the book DOW provided for the vestry
of St. Peter's, a churchwarden cannot interfere with
the 'arena, exospt by protest and information. On
his own responsibility, therefore, an Incium'ient can
let coypus he pleases officiate in his church, which
is his freehold. We trust that we shall soon have an
opportunity of bearing Mr. Acworth again. It will
require very little "puffing" to fill any church where
he may officiate; and we hope that when he does
re-visit Dorchester the CAroascie will not find all it.
sugar and spice turned into vinegar.