The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1863-10-20 00:00:00

There ii, vast deal of nonsense tsfzed some-
times, even at a Social Science Congress. Last
week Professor Bennett prov 4 no doubt, clearly
superfluous;
paused! uwohaust_;
effit:Teerhisu. hrorhwnthe • Ttn'oatge,Ll'adtba.r fotr nuomtensannareer
professor said that "lie
had • drop.; idea that smell did no harm, and it
had no.. been proved that smells arising from
dr.o• nage had the slightest effect on our health;
at all eventa, not to produce ill-health. He re-
lnembered when the Times and other newspapers
were crying out about the Thames; and when, in
the House of Commons, the members sat with
cambric handkerchiefs at their noses on ac-
count of the terrible odour from the river,
it was distinctly proved that during the
whole of that summer there was not the
slightest injury caused by it, and no case
of diarrhcca was produced." If this champion
of bad smells be right, who knows what harm
our sanitary inspectors are doing daily by causing
the removal of nuisances from the vicinity of our
dwellings I What folly Corporations, too, have
been guilty of, in improving the drainage of their
cities and towns, and in expending large sums
to obtain pure water for domestic purpose.!
Now we are not believers Ur entire neutrality.
Smells, if not unwholesome, must be positively
good, and those towns which have obtained good
drainage and good water ought at once to retrace
their steps. Who does not here see the wisdom
of the Weymouthians who build their houses over
large cesspools, and dig others at the corner of
every street! What sagacity have the Yeovilians
evinced by neglecting their drainage, and posi-
tively refusing to erect water-works even after
obtaining an Act of Parliament to enable them
to carry out such an undertaking. But Professor
Bennett was beaten hollow by a Mr. Elliott, of
Carlisle. That gentleman maintained that
fruit sewage did not injure water, and
stated that fish had increased in the
Eden, notwithstanding the introduction of
sewage, which, he held, afforded food for the
finny tribe." And if food for fish, why not for
man? Cook tells us of some savages who wore
quite insensible to the aroma of the rose, but
who would scent a carrion a league off, and fly
to the feast. Our two smell-funguses at the
Social Science gathering, one would suppose,
belong to the same tribe.
By American intelligence down to the Bth
instant we have another piece of petty despotism
worthy of Russia. A subscription of 10c. each,
which originated with the soldiers of the army
of the Potomac, for the purchase of a service of
plate to be presented to General M'Clellan, has
been prohibited by the Lincoln Government.
The President has issued an order revoking all
military edicts that in anywise direct the enlist-
ment into the army of slaves in Maryland, as he
had discovered that such enlistments were
alienating many loyal citizens of that State who
are alaveholders, from their support of the
government :
' It is reported via Cain, that Franklin attacked the
Confederates at Brashear, Louisiana, and was repulsed,
but received reinforcement', renewed the conflict, and
defeated the Confederates. No dates or particulars are
given. Skirmishing between the opposing armies at
Chattanooga continues. Another general engagement
Is considered imminent. On the hth the Confederates
opened fire on liceecrans with shell. A brisk artillery
engagement ensued, lasting several hours. Bragg is
reported to be heavily reinforced, and to have upwards
of l-5,000 men. Rooecrans'e communications are still
interrupted. Rumours prevailed in Nashville on the
Bth that Shelby% ale, with a" the Federal forces there,
had been captured by the Confederates. Confederate
accounts from Charleston on the iith report an attack
upon the Federal fleet. The Ironsides had much
demand the Confederate sailboat Chiciwra in the
action.

sewage,

DORC El ESTE R.—lsmaili-, CORN 24,taxrr,
Saturday, October 17.-Bupply of wheat much leas
than for several weeks put —Good dry samples sold
at late rates, but out-of-condition parcels were not
in demand. Barley of all sorts is. cheaper. Oats at
late prime.
MR. EN/1011'3 RIPOSITORY SAL!, Saturday,
o.itober 17.—Large supply of half•fat beasts.
Prime beef scarce, and realized ii.. to ii.. 6d. per
score. Barreners fetched £7 to .ClO, and heifers and
calves .Cl 2 to 415. Of 'beep there was a good show.
Those of good quality were in request, and a quick
sale was effected at from 70. to bd. per lb. For
inferior mutton the demand was inactive at from
to 7d. per lb.
:I CORN AVERAGES. MICHAELMAS EMITS. - The
averages deduced from the weekly returns published in
the London Gazette, give the following results—viz:
Wheat 464. ltd. per imperial quarter • Barley 345. 34.
per imperial quarter; Oats 21s. 64. per imperial
quarter. The following abstract shows the dates of the
A *hest andlotrese priers during the same period. Highest
prime : Wheat, Octoberlo, 1862, 51s. Id. ; Barley March
13, 1863, 365. 104. • o.la, July 10, 14s. Od. Lowest
p6oes .• Wheat, October 2, 1963, 43e. 9d. • Harley,
July 24, 28s. 101 ; Oct., January 23, and October 2,
20a. 24. Difference : Wheat, 7... 4d. ; Barley, Bs. 00.
Oats, 3a. 104. The fluctuation in the price of wheat
has been leas than in any year since 1851,

Tug Wscrimm—The reading of the thermometer at
Dorchester for the past week is u follows :