The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

Prussian Minister urged also as another motive
to closer union with Austria, the probability
that Frame might ultimately intervene In the
Polish question. Russia clamed with the pro-
1, and cemented the closer union thus formed
Fseoretly supporting the German Powers in
eir refusal of the Danish proposition with ry-
gard to this assembling of the Wgarsad for the
revocation of the November Constitution."
Later in the year Russia" formally recognised
that Austria and Prussia were, by the resistanoe
of the Danes, liberated from their treaty engage-
ments: and foreseeing the complication that
would arise if the German Powers insisted on
their right of conquest, assured them that, as
regarded the Duchies in any case, and under all
circumstances, they might rely on Rung= an
Again M. de Bismarck went to work,
and this time he "offered to Russia the support
of the German Powers against Poland, and to
Austria a compact with Prussia against Italy. As
the result, the German Powers agreed to conclude
an offensive and defensive alliance with Russia
the manient Sweden intervened in the conflict,
and in such eaoo Germany would unite in support
of Russia agairst Sweden. By this agreement
Russia effectually secured her interest in the
Baltic." Such being the state of affairs, the
Daily News sums up in the following terms :
"The presence and action of Roans in the Con-
ference would, under such circumstances, be the
moot mischievous form of Diplomatic duplicity.
Professing to take her seat as a neutral power,
she would, of course, occupy not only • false
and treacherous position, but prove a fatal
hindrance iu the way of any really equitable and
conciliatory proposal. The serious doubts thus
thrown on her position ought to be settled
without delay."
The Conference on the Danish difficulty
assembled on Tuesday at one o'clock and sat till
four. All the Plenipotentiaries were present,
but nothing definite was done, and an adjourn-
ment took place to Saturday, the 28th inst.
Thus, more than half the month's armistice will
have passed away, and yet we are told that the
prosiest of an agreement being coine in seems
m remote as ever. We am told that "Th.
divergence of opinion, not only between the
belligerents, but between Austria and Prussia
and the neutral Powers, is so wide, that as yet
they have not been able to agree on any common
basis of discussion. The German Powers re-
pudiate altogether their treaty engagements
towards Denmark, asserting that the war has
liberated them from all international obligations
relating to the Danish state, even those solemnly
contracted in concert with the other Powers, and
avowedly for European objects." On the other
hand the Danish Plempotentisrieslinsist that the
stipulations of the treaty of London are binding
on all its signataries. In this position they are
supported by the neutral Powers. It is evident,
therefore, that unless Austria and Prussia modify
their points of view, so as to bring it into
harmony with the position Loomed by the
mediating Powers, the proceedings of the Con-
ference must end in moonshine, uncle there will
be no opportunity of discussing any scheme of
compromise, or even of bringing forward any
conciliatory proper!. The Poet thinks that the
time must soon come when Prussia and Austria
must throw off the mask, and that it will then
be Wen whether the objects which the German
Powers have in view are of such a nature as
the neutral States can with safety permit to be
realised. But suppose they are not, what then I
Will these Powers he prepared to enforce what
they believe to be just and right upon Germany?
Although everyone by this time must feel eats-
fled that Austria and Pruseisare most audaciously
playing with the best interests of Europe, it
may be doubted, whether any of the Powers
except England and Sweden are sincere in
the part they are taking. We keep hearing of
France's opinion as to the course which ought to
be pursued, but M. Ronher has taken the
trouble to tell us most distinctly that in this
quarrel France will not go to war. Austria and
Prussia therefore will know that unless England
take up the cudgels single-handed, they may
make their own terms, and blot Denmark out of
the map of Europe. The question is, are we to
engage single-banded in a war for the defence of
our Danish ally I If not, of what use to
Denmark is the British alliance? War we all
know is a most deplorable alternative; but will
not the people force it upon the Government,
and thus earn the distinction ef being the only
nation in Europe that is honourable, rather than
rest under the reproach of dishonour, and have
it on their consciences that they permitted a
gallant and high-spirited ally to be crushed by
the overwhelming weight of two selfish, tyran-
nical, and unprincipled neighbours I The
mingled sense of indignation and sympathy
which has so emphatically shown Hardt on several
occasions in the House of Commons of late, has
spread upwards into the House of Lords, and
when on Friday week, Lord Ellenborough
uttered his scorching strictures on the extortions
and oppressions of the Prussian army in
Jutland, there was loud and long continued
cheering. Even in that "serene atmosphere,"
as Lard Derby called it when Lord Russell first
entered it, the animas celartilms ire could no
longer be restrained, but burst out with full
force against the German &him when that moving
tale of dastardly oppression was told. And we
know of no living statesman who is more likely
to take fire and blase out against those cowardly
oppressors than Lord Palmerston, who, we re-
joice to lean, has once more shaken off his old
enemy, the gout. The bonds of official restraint
and reserve gall him, and we may be sure he will
not much longer have to wait his opportunity
for speaking out in the style he was wont to do,
if we may judge of the questions that have
been put to Government since the re-assembling
of the House after the Whitsuntide holidays.
For our own part, if Austria and Prussia are
not as we all suspect, playing "(sir and above
board" in this matter, the sooner, we think,
they are forced to show their bands, the better
for all parties.
The Mackay gun seems to maintain its reputation
as beim the most destructive weapon that has bveo
yet invented. Another trial come ofl on Friday
afternoon, for the purpose of testing the quality of
some steel bolta manufactured by Mr. Mackay
himself. Ills gun was on the fined platform. about
200 yards from the Aginoourt target. It was charged
with 301ba of powder and a steal bolt, similar in
shape to those used is formed experiments, and
weighing 1531 ha The shot went clean through the
upper plate, striking one of the steel bolts in its
ctand was picked up at 1,475 yards is • direct
to the back of the target, or 1,675 yards
front the gun. Tb• 2i inch bolt of the target was
picked up at 661 yards from the target, • piern of
iron from the target weighing 20Ibe. was picked up
at 600 yards, soother piece weighing 40th..
at 383 yards, and between that distance arid
300 yards were picked op several "splinter."
weighing from 20 to 40Ibe. each. The shot
was not altered in shape nor reduced in length, bet
• piece had been chipped off from one end where it
had crone in contact with the steel bolt of the target.
Comment on such • tremendous power of distraction
I. needleas.
The supplies of wool this year have shown some
little weskosse—at any rats, as °wowed with 1863,
notwithstanding the estreniely high prioes whinh
have prevailed. Thus, in the firet three months; of
1864, the total imports of sheep and lain&
wool were 17,997.771 Ha, and of alpaca and
llama wool 364,930 lba, spies'. 19,644,964 lbs
awl 697,719 lbs. la the corresponding period of
NIA and 14,011,929 lbs. and 675,984 in the cm
remendieg period of 1862. The deliveries from
British India increased to 1,178,016 lbs. as com-
pared with 915.358 lbs. ia the corresponding quarter
of 1863; but those front Australia declined to
4,654,378 lbs. as compared with 7,195,718 lbs. ia
the oorrempowling quarter of 1863. From the
Hanes Towne and other parts of Europe the de-
liveries have been considerably restricted this year,
baying only reached 3,273,334 lbs.,
5.533.260 lbs. la the corresponding quiarter oft.ll 63.
From other ormatrise the deliveries, however,
have been 3,233,579 lbs. against 2,800 283 Ilss.
in the oorrespooding gustier of 1663. The
value of the sheep and lambs' wool imported is
the first two months of 1864 was £457,210
£471,177 in the oorrespoeding .two months o;c8V
To this mew* be added £21,841 for the alpaca and
llama wool imported in the first two mouths this
veer against £82,441 is 1863. Woollen rags torn
op to be used as wool were also imported in the Bret
two months of this year to the value of £54,608,
against £41,359 in 180, and £39,150 in 1882. At
prevent trade is estraniely slack, in consequence of
the high price of the raw material and the refusal of
the manufacturers to enter into profitless envy-
I manta.
secret

DORCHESTER.—Ymnin Omis Mem^ Salter-
ht.y 2L —There wee a good empty ofwheat as
offer. Traits ruled dell. at la to So per qr. redeems.
The making ...em being warty over. Mere WM • WU
WS &mad for barley. Om a heavy gals, at lass
nem.
Ten Lars Eita A. :d. Tuu.oca.— The death M
Sir Almander Murray Tolle* X.iJ B, which took
place on Monday, dis 161 h Met, alter a short
Illness, has adismand mash regret lawoodet hI
perms in the War Dspartment The gallant officer
only left town an Friday week to am a nswly•par-
chased Property in Dersetehirs. The late Sir
Almeida, Whoa was educated at Edisbn2
afterwards went to the Militery Collage
Saud-
beret, where ha *Maimed the biesl homers is She
senior department of that mihtaraw alwer7. at
entered the &awes swigs in die zh Rucimast. in
Mt The his —pied erragal