The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1862-01-28 00:00:00

eorrtsponbenre.

RAILROAD TO PORTLAND:
[The following appeared in our contemporary, the
Telegram :—]

SIR,—AI all public loan are generally considered to
be public property, and as I am the oldest tradesman
in my native town, I must thank you for devoting so
much spacein your widely circulated journal, to the many
truthful and bold written letters connected with Wey-
mouth and Da interests, I allude to "Versa,,
" Argus " Looker On," 'Observer," &c.; and as you
have staled "that your (alumna are open to any reply
Upon all local questions," I have been much disappointed
that none of the seven advocates for a railroad to
Portland, have advanced any arguments to refute those
facts exposed by the writers of the letters, under the
above signatures.
I am therefore led to conclude that the matters
adduced are undeniably too true, and that they
cannot be contradicted either by those who supported
the scheme directly by their votes, or by the other two
classes who supported it indirectly—those who were
present but did not vote, and those who were absent
when they ought to have been present to vote. I
I would ask Messrs. Aldridge Devenish, Hare, (Mayor).
1 Maunders, Hibbs, Rowland Thomas, Thompson, and
' Ayles, who supported • railroad to Portland by their
votes in the Council Chamber, do they really believe
I that they have done their duty to the town, or do they
suppose that they can satisfy the inhabitants at large
that they have done so? Perhaps these gentlemen will
answer these questions through the medium a the
press; if not, probably they will have an opportunity
of doing so at a public meeting which I hope will be
ere long convened to ascertain the feelings of the
'town.
I. would auk Ideesrs..Aldermin Bower, and Councillors
Harper, Upjohn, and Frampton why they were
neutral ea the occasion? Mr. Alderman Eliot, as
stated by "Looker-Oa" was not in England, bat permit
me to oak Messrs. Ayling, Thomas Luce, Captain
Prows* (ex-Mayor), Howard, Coacher H. Devtinish,
and Milledge who ought te have been present upon
such an important questiqn, why they did not perform
their duty for the welfare of the town? Surely those
who were so eager to get elected members of the
Corporation, in order that every subject mooted in the
Council Chamber might be honestly discussed, ought to
have been present to record their votes for the true
interests of the borough, and thus fulfil the pledge they
mace, when seeking for municipal honours, of being ,
gt and faithful stewards of the important in-
to their
Es oommitted trust.
i •
ow, Mr. Editor, and brother townsmen, compare I
the conduct ro
of these men with the following gentlemen '
who stood up boldly, with such great odds against them, I
to record their votes for the good of the town, and
your opinions—if honest and antipolitical—must soon
be formed, whether it does not savour very like • Tory
compact, to serve the interests of the Great Wafter's,
who in all political struggles so well served them; aye,
and will again, rely upon it, whenever the time offers. I
These men fellow-townsmen are worthy of record. I
They are Mr. Christopher instant, an honest Tory, I
Mr. William Thomas, of the Old Liberal School, Mr. I
William Roberts, an old and consistent Tory, and Mr.
Joseph Drew, the proposer of the amendment against
any bill cbming before Parliament, Laying for it, object
a "hallway to Portland,"
—.... ... .. _ .. . . .

With thille remarks I put the following important
questions, and in doing so, respectfully court • reply,
hoping that some of the nineteen who ought to come
forward when boldly challenged, will give some reason
for their conduct, when so publicly solicited. I Cin
have no other interest, Mr. Editor, save that of render-
ing good servioe to the town that gave me birth; and
although I have been hinted at as the author of many
totters lately appearing in the Telegram, I will on this
occasion do, as I have often before done, subscribe my
name; being old enough to bear and to hold myself
amenable for all the tionsequenees which may result
from the ore of performing • duty towards • town
I have liv in foe nearly sixty-Are years.
I would enk . what is to become of our harbour;
t
its enormous del*, of £18,000? The interest on the
money edvanced—how to be paid? Its future dues in
the event of a railroad to Portland ?—Most vital and im-
portant questions.
What also is to become of the newly-era:tad Pile
Pier, its present debt of £12,000, the interest on the same;
and how are, and from whom are, the tolls to be col-
lected, so sate pay off interest and principle, and keep the
saine in repair ; and to what future us* will it be de-
voted when a railroad is established to Portland? This
is another very serious and important qmestion.
What is to become of the Portland bridge, and the
tolls required to keep the same in good repair, when •
railroad to Portland is established?
Whet also can the trustees of the said bridge say to
such an act as this? And why was it they did not fill
up the many death vacancies of the trust in proper
time, whereby they might have had •sufficient majority
of trustees to prevent their sanction being surrendeied
in favour of • railroad to Portland, and thus have
secured those interests they were bound to protect and
support? Where will the future traffic go ?—This,
amongst the many, is most of all important to both I
Weymouth and Portland.
What, too, is to become of our new market-house—
erected at such • ruinous expense—which was carried
by the small YON of the then Mayor, Mr. A. Devenish?
Look at the number of stalls always empty? Look at
its bad arrangement as regards those now occupied.
Look at the two principal entrances, choked up on the
one side, the ether blocked up by encroachments, whit&
renders it all bat impossible to peas to and from the
market. Need I say that this market-house taxes all
consumers full 20 to 25 per cent, on everything they
purchaseould does no good to the market vendors? And
if a railroad to Portland is to be parried out, at least
one-seventh of its consumption will be taken by rail to
Portland, thus crippling the present rental for stalls to
mere beggary.
What is to become of the old-established coal trills,
and the large, high-rented stores, of Messrs. Tizard,
Welaford, Dyer, Gibson, R. Cox, Cousins, Templeman,
Ate. coal merchants—long established—when the rail-
road is carried to Portland? What is to became of the
many ships owned by the different coal merchants and '
others, their wives and families, and their crews? This
Is a branch of trade established as long ago as the good 1
old days of Queen Elizabeth, who gr..nted a royal
charter to the borough of Weymouth and Holcombe ,
Regis, for sending • large supply of shipping and sea-
men to protect her Government. Where too, in future,
will be the nursery of sailors from this port to be
found? This is another important question, affecting,
as it does, butchers, bakers, drapers, grocers, tailors,
elethiers' sailmakers, shipbuilders, and (shopkeepers,
of every denomination.
What is to become of the many stores and other valu-
able recently-built property, erected on our quays, when
the railroad is established? Where will the steamers
that now run to and from the Channel Islands, start
from, when • railroad is completed to Portland? Mr.
Maunders, perhaps, could answer this, being one of the
six supporters of the scheme, and the secretary of the
Steam Packet Company belonging to the Great Western
Railway.
What is to become of the large amount of trade car-
ried on by Weymouth and Dorchester tradesmen,
between this and the island of Portland, giving, as it
does now, a large amount of traffic to our steamers,
boats, bridges, carts, wagons, tse., to say nothing of 4
some thousands of pounds spent annually amongst the
tradesmen of the town by the business transactions
carried on for so long a i eriod ? ,
What is to become of the large feet of steamers be-
longing to the present owners, running to and
from Portland, giving various pleasure trips,
towing in and out vessels of our port, and occasionally ,
rendering snob good service to ships in the bay or
channel, when helpless by stress of weather, and thus
saving many valuable lives?
What also will become of the expensive fish market?
What is to become of our Weymouth bridge traffic,
and how will the interest or principal of the debt be
paid? and how many years longer will the inhabitants 1
of the town, of every class, continue to pay ld. for every
bushel of coal they burn, when the railroad Is
carried out? 1
.

What is to become of the amount of property lately
erected in Portland for ood dons, which is held by
Captain Cox, coal merchant, of this town, for the ex-
press purpose of supplying the island generally with
seaborne coal?
What too will brooms of Weymouth as • fashionable
watering-place, and what too will be said of the thou-
sands sod tens of thousands of our visitors, patronising
hotels, lodging houses, Az., andexconiouiate, when they
pay us their annual visit, and find almost the only
sontai of amusement and comfort driven out of the
town—and crumbling railroad established in the room
of steamers, to Portland, after having their bones well
shaken in travelling so fir by rail.
What too will the invalid say, and those who cannot
endure the shaking of a railway carriage—when they
find the steamers driven from the port, and cannot en-
joy the accustomed benefit of • short, safe, and plea-
sant trip, with the invigorating sea breese between
this and Portland?
What too will the lovers of a moinlight excursion trip
by the Prince steamer say, when they are this deprived
of the merry dance, and the pleasiere of • pipe or cigar—
to say nothing of the many imerpy and reciprocal
smiles of friendship, between thoes inclined to pass away
the monotony of business—when they find they have to
thank Mr. Devenish, and the six other Tories, for thus
depriving them of so many social enjoyments?
And, lastly, what is to become of the Town Crier,
when he can no longer be employed *Mb bell and paper
in hand, announcing an excursion to Portland,
Lulworth, Swann. ; a trip round the 'lsland, or to
visit the Warrior, Britannia, sr tome Ober large navy
structure lying in our mirknificent Brairwater in
Portland road. I think I hear him uttering strange
words against those who set on foot such agniadly wild
scheme.

When these questions, Mr. Editor, are answered, the
town may be more reconciled to the fate of all that
valuable property and interest, which at present remains
in jeopardy and suspense as to its future welfare.
Awaitiag the result of these questions,
I am, Mr. Editor,
Yours very truly,
JOHN JENKINS ROLLS.
Stylises in Panto.
No. 6, &nada Place, January 20th, 1862.

ANTIQUITIES OF WEYMOUTH.
Sr. MAAT'a CILIMOH.
We last week announced our intention of giving our
readers some account of the history of the old church
of lide'combo Regis. The Southern Times, on learning
this, endeavoured to forestal us by inserting, in it.
following number, • brief article on the same subject.
We, however, proceed to redeem our promise for the
following ressona : -First, because we desire to keep
faith with our reader, • secondly, because our account
contains many important particulars not referred to by
our contemporary; and thirdly, because the majority of

our readers do not see' the &Whet% TOnee . We can
fearlessly take upon ourselves the responsibility of this
assertion from the fact, that there are nearly er quite
four thee' as many of the Telegram, said in WeNno nth
atone—to say nothing of the number sold elesewhere—
as are even printed of the Southern Tina. We there,
fors do not omnplain of the march onrcontenfporary
last week stole upon us ; everything, it is said, is fair
in war; but we have been taught the lesson for the
future not to allow our left band koow what our right
hand inteudb to do.

For the materials of our sketches of old St. Mary's
Church and other matters we are indebted to M. John
Jenkins Rolls,whose object in giving them Is the amuse-
ment and instruction of hie fellow-townsmen. Ifr.
Rolls was, we understand, a sehoolmate, and afterwards
an intimate friend of Mr. J. A. Kills, the author pf the
" History and antiquities of Weymouth and Meloombe
Regis," and assisted that gentleman in obtaining
material for that work. We need, therefore, hardly
Kay that it is from this source is derived a great portion
qf the information contained iii the various artieles
that are promised us, together with other matter not
found in that work.

-artieles I

The first mention we have of the erection of a placeof worship in Me'combo Regis is found in
Chantler's Register, where it is stated that in the 26th
of Edward 1., when the manor cams into the possession
of that monarch, the Bishop of Sarum, under whose
jurisdiction it then was, en the lat December 1298, by a
letter to the locum knew of the Dean, informs him
that the chapel at Idelcombe, the prebendal church at
Lyme, with numerous others in the arolsdeaoonry of
Dorset, lately Intik were not consecrated ; and ordered
this ceremony to be performed inganter, pursuant to a
constitution of Otto and ()dollen ; and the following Is
given man illustration of the form of consecration used
as those times :

"Soon. u bryght Bonne. slong the 'lune,
Red sent bye ruddie lyght ;
And Fayryes byd ynne oslippe ouppes,
'Till wish'd spproohe of night.
The matyn belle with shrills sound,
Re-sokode throw the aire •

A troop of holio Freers did
For jeatts Mame prepare.

Around the highe unsaynted Chyrohs,
With holy. reliques wente,
And ovate doors and peace abut.
Wyth Goalie thynges betprinte.
Then ye Bisreop yn scarlet. dresste,
And mytred
From Mastro Maim bye grete hawse,
Wythe Rosario dyd hie.
Before hym went • throng of Preens,
Who dyd the Masse Song. syn.;
Behynde hyui Muter Rivers came,
Tryokyd lyke • barbed kyrige.
And then • rowe of holie Freeres,
Who gyd the Mame Son& sounde,
The procurators and Chyrohe R 430,108,
Next preste upon the gronnde.
And when unto the Chyrche they alone,
A belie Masse was mange,
Bo lowlie was theirswete
The Haven soo hie it range.

Then ye Biomes!)e did puryfye,
The Chyrche to God for aye,
Wyth holye Masses and goods Psalmes,
Which he did the rein salt;
Than was a sermon preeched Bonne,
Bie ye Bisceope boll.;
And after that another none,
- preechen was hie me*.
Then alee did goe to Moires howse,
An Euterlade to plaie •
And drynke wyne and all so goode,
And praye for hym for ale."
_Ant long previous to this period the holy fraternity
RIR monks and friars gave many • longing and lingering
look towards Weymouth and Idelcombe Regis. About
the year 938, King Atheistan in consequence of a false
charge brought against his half brother, Prinoe Edwin,
of a conspiracy to dethrone him, ordered him to be
exposed in an open boat without sails or oars to the fury
of the raging waves. The young Prince, accompanied by
his esquire, entered the boat, protesting his innocence,
hut finding the King inexorable, and overcool° by
despair, cast himself headlong into the sea. His
attendant met with • better fate, for he was driven with
the corpse of his master on to the coast of Picardy.
King Athelstan was at first xecretly pleased with this
occasion to destroy his brother, but the moment lie had
gratified his pinion he was seized with remorse; awl to
quiet his conscience, confined himself for several years
at Lamport, in Somerset, by way of penance, and also
was advised by the monks to perform oeveral meritorious
acts. 'With this view be founded the Abbeys of
Meehalney and of Middleton (Milton) in Dorset, where
prayers were offered day and night for the souls of
himself, and his brother Edwin. By charter or deed
granted to Milton Abbey, he also gave to God, St,
Mary, St. Michael, St. Sampson, and St. Branwalader,
for his soul and the sollid of his ancestors and successors
Kings of England :—" All that water within the shore
of Weymouth, and half the stream of that Weymouth
out of sea; twelve acres for the support of the wear and
its officer, three Thaynes and a salturn by the wears,
and sixty-seven hides of land in its neighbourhood"—
probably at Wyke.
This grant of Weymouth and the stream of water
imams to have been made for the purpose of supplying
the goodly abbot and his fraternity with fish to regale ,
their paunches on fast days and during Lent, as the
grant says—"ad victum."
Tf_ls ,Qtrktimsed4

CHARMINSTER.—On Tuesday last an inquest
was held at the County Hospital, Dorchester, on the
body of Levi Park, a carter in the employ of Mr.
Read, farmer, of this place. It appeared that three
waggons had bean sent to Breadwey with corn, and
that on returning the waggon driven by Park was
hindmost. They had both beer and cider at Broad-
way and Upwey, but deceased did not seem the
worse for liquor. After passing through the Monck-
ton toll-gate, Park's horses started forward. Park,
who standing on the shafts, talking to two women
who were sitting in the hind part of the waggon,
gave instructions to his mate how to act. The boy
did as he was bid, and shortly afterwards, on turning
round, saw Park lying in the road. Be went back
and found him a state of insensibility. The poor
fellow was taken to the County Hospital. Mr. Tudor
attended him, and discovered that he was suffering
from an extensive fracture of the spine, fractured ribs,
which had perforated the lungs, and a fracture of the
left collar bone. Although there were no external
marks of a wheel having passed over the body, the
injuiries were such as would be likely to be caused
by such a circumstance. There was not the least
chance for the deceased's recovery, and he died
about four hours after admission to the hospital.
Verdict "Accidental Death."
WAREHA.M.—The usual quietude of our town
was somewhat disturbed on Thursday evening, 16th
instant, at about half-past nine o'clock. A very
fair-haired young man has been staying at one of the
hotels for the last eight or nine days. His visit to
Wareham, to casual observers, appeared to be pur-
poseless. Beyond reading a book, smoking • pipe,
and drinking a glass of grog, he seemed to have no
earthly object to fulfil. Some few with whom he
entered into conversation were much pleased with
his affability, and his general agreeableness. At
length, in confidence to a chosen friend, he imparted
the mighty secret of his visit to Wareham. It was
for no less a purpose than to find • few missing links
in • long chain of circumstances, which, when per-
fect, would' prove that the present occupiers of- a
princely shade and estate in Dorsetahire are not the
rightful owners. The fair-haired young man of
course knew the rightful heir, and was acting in •
most unselfish manner on his behalf. The story he
told was very romantic in itself, but no doubt utterly
groundless, and therefore we think not worth re-
peating. On Thursday evening he was observed in
the bar of the hotel with his hand in the cash
drawer. On being accused of theft he became very
faint, and fell backwards into a chair. Upon some
one making use of the word policeman, like the little
dogs who have been lately performing in the Town.
hail, he bolted. George, the omnibus driver, •
small, smart, active specimen of a groom, reminding
one of Tom Ingoldsby's description of Lord Tom
Noddy's man,—

" Tiger Tim was clean of limb,
Tana ot boys, and shortest of men.
He stood in his stockings just tour foot ten."
George was having his supper in the kitchen, anal
quickly becoming aware that somebody had bolkid
who it was necessary to catch, dawn went knife
and fork, and, not waiting to put on hat or cap,
away be started in pursuit. The runaway certainly
had a good start, but little George was after him
at a speed that would not have disgraced the active
little Mills, or the rolling awkWard Deerfoot. Away
they went down North-street, up Cow-street, and
along Mill-lane. Others now joined in the chase.
Some rushed to the end of North-street, and one
burly townsman made for the North-bridge, where
he determined to offer a stout resistanoe should the
individual attempt to leave the town that way. At
the end of Mill-lane the runaway turned to the
right, past Elm House Academy, down the bill, and
across the bottom of St. Martin's pitch, and up the
opposite hill leading to the East Walls. Here he
turned suddenly to the left, ran .behind some pig-
styes, and got on to the steps, which make a passage
'between Clarke's Cottages and the Drax Arms.
Here the redoubtable George appears to have been
somewhat at fault, and the gasman lays claim to the
honour of being the first to find the fugitive. At
! any rate George collared, took him captive, and
delivered him into the hands of the police. We
abstain from publishing names, because we think
! the young man is more fool than knave. During all
, this every one in the hotel was in great excitement,
' with the exception of the worthy landlord, whose
impassiveness really reminds one of Thaokeray's
skstoh of the great Duke of Marlborough.
BLACK BRAR HoTEL.—Mr. Beale, the new land-
lord, held his opening dinner on Thursday, the 23rd
instant. James Penton, Esq., took the chair, faced
by & Dean, Esq. There were present—C.
Esq., C. Filleter, Fsq. J. Penton, Junr., Esq.;
Messrs. Barfoot, Baggs, brew, Davis, Groves, Jones,
Tapp, Yearsley, kn., ko. An excellent dinner was
placed upon the table, and the evening was pawed in
that social and pleasing manner, for which Wareham
is proverbial. The pleasures of the evening ere
much enhanced by the rare ability displayed by a
young townsman in singing Irish and comic songs.
The number of gentlemen who attended must con-
vince Mr. Beale that he has the good wishes of the
inhabitants of Wareham.

Prrrr Simmons, Tuaiday.—Before Garland,
and—Wald, &qrs.
Conn Carna.--,Toha Hood, a youth, was

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I
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W. Insist on none bat "Emery'," as there are many
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